Tulsi Gabbard has resigned as US director of national intelligence, becoming the fourth cabinet member to depart during Donald Trump's second term. The 45-year-old Republican announced she is stepping down to care for her husband, Abraham Williams, who has been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.
Resignation Letter Details
In her resignation letter addressed to President Trump, Gabbard expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for the past year and a half. She stated that her husband faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months, and she must step away from public service to support him.
Gabbard wrote: "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. His strength and love have sustained me through every challenge. I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position."
She emphasized that significant progress has been made at the ODNI, including advancing unprecedented transparency and restoring integrity to the intelligence community. Gabbard committed to ensuring a smooth transition over the coming weeks to avoid disruption in leadership or momentum.
Trump's Response
President Trump responded on Truth Social, praising Gabbard for doing "an incredible job" and announcing that her principal deputy, Aaron Lukas, will serve as acting director of national intelligence. Gabbard's resignation is effective June 30, 2026.
Gabbard, who previously ran in the Democratic presidential primaries against Joe Biden in 2020 before joining the Republican Party, leaves as the fourth cabinet member to exit during Trump's second term. Her departure underscores the personal sacrifices often required in high-level public service.
