Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, has announced her resignation as Director of National Intelligence in President Donald Trump's cabinet. She informed Trump of her decision during a meeting on Friday, with her departure effective June 30.
Reason for Resignation
In her resignation letter, Gabbard cited her husband Abraham's diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer as the reason for stepping down. “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.
A Tumultuous Tenure
Gabbard's exit marks the end of a challenging year and a half for the former Democrat. She entered Trump's orbit during the 2024 election after leaving the Democratic Party following an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Her tenure as intelligence chief was marked by controversy and scrutiny over her past positions and loyalty.
Gabbard's resignation adds to the ongoing turnover within the Trump administration, as the president prepares for the final months of his term. Her departure will require a swift appointment of a successor to lead the nation's intelligence community.
