Tulsi Gabbard just resigned as Director of National Intelligence, citing her husband’s diagnosis with a rare and serious form of bone cancer. Gabbard’s resignation in the middle of a conflict with Iran leaves a significant void at the top of America’s intelligence apparatus.
Gabbard notified President Donald Trump in a face-to-face meeting in the Oval Office Friday. Fox News obtained her formal resignation letter, which she also posted publicly on X. Her last day will be June 30.
“Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” Gabbard wrote. “My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.”
“Abraham has been my rock throughout our eleven years of marriage — standing steadfast through my deployment to East Africa on a Joint Special Operations mission, multiple political campaigns, and now my service in this role,” she wrote.
Trump responded immediately on Truth Social with praise for his departing intelligence chief and a personal message to her husband.
“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,” Trump wrote. “Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her. I have no doubt that Abraham will soon be better than ever.”
Trump named Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas as acting director, effective when Gabbard departs.
Gabbard becomes the fourth Cabinet official to exit Trump’s second term. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was ousted in late March amid criticism over her leadership in Trump’s illegal immigration crackdown. Attorney General Pam Bondi departed amid growing frustration over the DOJ’s mishandling of the Epstein files, which have still not been fully released. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned in April following misconduct investigations.
White House officials had been hearing rumors for weeks that Gabbard was planning to leave. But as recently as two weeks ago, she was denying any plans to resign.
A former Democrat and committed anti-interventionist, Gabbard had difficulty fitting into an administration that launched a war against Iran. Her former top aide, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, resigned in March with a fiery letter accusing the administration of launching the attack under Israeli pressure despite Tehran posing “no imminent threat” to the United States. When Kent resigned, Gabbard issued a statement rebuking him and saying Trump had concluded Iran did post
“an imminent threat.”
Gabbard was confirmed as the nation’s top intelligence official on February 12, 2025, and served approximately 16 months. She led the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, overseeing a coalition of 18 intelligence agencies and organizations.