Tulsi Gabbard announced on Friday that she is stepping down as Director of National Intelligence to support her husband after he was diagnosed with "an extremely rare form of bone cancer". Gabbard informed President Donald Trump of her decision during a meeting in the Oval Office on Friday. Her final day leading the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is expected to be 30 June.
In a resignation letter posted by her on X,Gabbard thanked Trump for "the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half".
"Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026," she wrote."My husband, Abraham,has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer." She said her husband "faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months" and that she needed to leave public office to support him. "At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle," she said.
Gabbard described her husband as "my rock throughout our eleven years of marriage", adding that he had supported her through military deployment, political campaigns and her time in office. "His strength and love have sustained me through every challenge," she wrote. "I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position."
Tulsi Gabbard's resignation letter. (Photo: X)
Gabbard said she believed she had made "significant progress" at ODNI, citing efforts to increase transparency and reform the intelligence community, but acknowledged that "there is still important work to be done".
"I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition over the coming weeks so that you and your team experience no disruption in leadership or momentum," she added.
Reacting to the news, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th. Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together."
He added, "I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever. Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her. Her highly respected Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence."
Gabbard's exit would follow other recent high profile departures from Trump's cabinet. Since the beginning of the year, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and other senior national security and health officials including Dr. Marty Makary, who led the Food and Drug Administration, left their roles.
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