By PC Bureau
May 23, 2026: Tulsi Gabbard announced on Friday that she will resign as Director of National Intelligence at the end of June, citing her husband’s recent diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.
In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Gabbard wrote that her husband, Abraham, faces major medical challenges in the months ahead and that she must step away from public service to fully support him during his treatment.
“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. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.”
Trump praised Gabbard’s tenure and announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas will serve as acting DNI following her departure.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said Gabbard had done “an incredible job” leading the intelligence community and added that she was making the “rightful” decision to prioritize her family during a difficult period.
According to senior administration officials, rumors about Gabbard’s possible resignation had circulated within the White House for several weeks, although she had publicly denied plans to leave as recently as two weeks ago. She reportedly met Trump in the Oval Office on Friday to personally hand over her resignation letter.
In the letter, Gabbard described her husband as her “rock” throughout their eleven years of marriage, including during her deployment to East Africa on a Joint Special Operations mission, multiple political campaigns, and her service in government.
She also pointed to reforms implemented during her tenure, saying her office had advanced “unprecedented transparency” and worked to restore integrity within the intelligence community, while pledging a smooth transition process.
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Despite public statements from President Trump and Tulsi Gabbard citing her husband’s diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer as the reason for her departure, Reuters is reporting that this was not a choice by Gabbard, and that the White House forced her to resign from her… pic.twitter.com/bW0xZYl6c0
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 22, 2026
Latest in a Wave of High-Level Departures
Gabbard’s resignation marks the latest major departure from the Trump administration amid growing tensions over U.S. policy toward Iran and broader internal disagreements.
Among the notable exits:
- Joe Kent resigned in March 2026, reportedly in protest over the administration’s war policy toward Iran.
- Amaryllis Fox Kennedy stepped down in May 2026, citing family reasons while continuing to support the administration’s Iran strategy.
- Kristi Noem was removed amid reported internal policy disagreements.
- Pam Bondi departed following tensions within the administration.
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer also recently exited the administration.
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Tensions During Her Tenure
Gabbard’s time as DNI was marked by repeated friction with the White House, particularly over Iran. Her public statements frequently differed from the administration’s more hawkish stance, especially regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the justification for military escalation.
She faced scrutiny after declining to describe Iran as an “imminent threat” during congressional testimony and for comments following U.S. strikes linked to Operation Midnight Hammer in 2025.
Her tenure also drew controversy after reports of her direct involvement in an FBI search of the Fulton County, Georgia, elections office during an investigation into alleged 2020 election fraud — an unusual role for a Director of National Intelligence.
A former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and Iraq War veteran, Gabbard was sworn in as Director of National Intelligence on February 12, 2025, after endorsing Trump and joining the Republican Party during the 2024 election cycle.
