Tulsi Gabbard has resigned as Director of National Intelligence, announcing she will step down effective June 30, 2026, citing her husband’s recent cancer diagnosis.
Gabbard confirmed her resignation in a post on X, stating she was “deeply grateful for the trust President Trump placed in me and for the opportunity to lead @ODNIgov for the last year and a half.” She noted, “Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” explaining that her husband, Abraham, has been diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer.”
She added that her husband “faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months,” and emphasized her decision 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 wrote.
In a formal resignation letter addressed to President Donald Trump, Gabbard reiterated her gratitude for the appointment and reflected on her time in office. “I am deeply grateful 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,” she wrote.
She also noted her husband’s support throughout her career, stating, “Abraham has been my rock throughout our eleven years of marriage,” and added that she could not “in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position.”
Gabbard informed Trump of her decision during a meeting at the White House. Her resignation comes after roughly a year and a half in the role, during which she was reported to have overseen efforts focused on restructuring intelligence operations and expanding transparency initiatives.
Gabbard said she would work to ensure a smooth transition in leadership, emphasizing continuity within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the handover period.
