Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down as Director of National Intelligence after her husband, Abraham, 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. Her resignation is expected to take effect on June 30, 2026.
In her resignation letter, Gabbard said she was grateful for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, but explained that her family now needs her full attention.
“My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer,” Gabbard wrote. She said he faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months, and that she must step away from public service to support him through the battle.
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Gabbard described Abraham as her “rock” throughout their 11 years of marriage, saying he stood by her during her military deployment, political campaigns and her service in the Trump administration.
“I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position,” she wrote.
Trump later reacted to the announcement in a Truth Social post, praising Gabbard’s work and saying she was leaving the administration for the right reason. He said her husband is facing a difficult battle and that Gabbard wants to be by his side.
Trump also announced that Aaron Lukas, the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence after Gabbard’s departure.
During her time as DNI, Gabbard said her office made progress on transparency and efforts to restore trust in the intelligence community. She also said she is committed to ensuring a smooth transition before leaving the post.
Gabbard later shared her resignation letter publicly, saying it had been a profound honor to serve the American people as Director of National Intelligence.
Her departure marks a major change in Trump’s national security team as the administration prepares for a leadership transition at the top of the intelligence community.
A related post summarized Gabbard’s resignation and the reason behind her decision.
Tulsi Gabbard steps down as Director of National Intelligence
Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) submitted her resignation as US Director of National Intelligence on Friday, citing her husband Abraham Williams’s diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. The resignation is… pic.twitter.com/9vAoo7pmey
— BSCN (@BSCNews) May 22, 2026
