The push for the change comes amid growing pressure from those allied with President Donald Trump to get Gabbard’s nomination across the finish line. The panel, chaired by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), typically votes and deliberates on nominations behind closed doors.

“There have been discussions about it among some Republican members of the panel, although I’m not sure if they’ve even reached Chairman Cotton,” said a GOP aide speaking on condition of anonymity. “To be honest, I’m not sure how serious it is.” 

The consideration to open the committee vote comes amid concerns that Gabbard’s nomination may not even advance out of the panel since one “no” vote from a Republican could prevent it from reaching the floor. Some Republican senators are privately expressing fears about Gabbard’s chances.

“Structurally, I don’t think so,” a GOP senator said last week, speaking to the Washington Examiner on condition of anonymity about whether Gabbard’s nomination has a shot. “She’s got a lot of challenges, not the least of which is a single ‘no’ vote in committee fails the nomination.” 

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a critical swing vote, has indicated she has many questions for Gabbard. In addition to concerns about Gabbard’s past support for Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who was charged with leaking classified information that revealed U.S. surveillance programs, the Maine senator said she wants further clarity on her shifting position on a crucial surveillance program.

“I think the hearings will be helpful in defining exactly what her position is, versus how she voted versus her answers to the questions for the record,” Collins said, speaking to the Washington Examiner on Monday evening. 

In addition to Collins, Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), two members of the panel, have not said how they would vote on Gabbard’s nomination.

Collins indicated that she had not been made aware of discussions of making their committee vote public. Ranking member Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) emphasized the committee has a “long-standing tradition” of voting privately and does not allow for a public roll call vote.

“I haven’t had a chance to discuss that with Chairman Cotton yet,” Warner said, getting into an elevator ahead of a Monday evening vote. 

Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC), the newest member of the Intelligence Committee who was chosen to replace former senator-turned-Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said he had heard rumblings about changing the committee vote process.

“I’ve heard the questions, but I have not personally weighed in on that,” Budd said. “I’ve known Tulsi for a long while. I have great respect for her, and she’s a highly vetted lieutenant colonel. And then let’s also realize that most intelligence is on a need-to-know basis, so if she doesn’t know something, she hasn’t needed to know before this job.”

Opening up the committee vote would require the panel to waive its rules. A spokesperson for Cotton declined to comment.