WASHINGTON — Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her position as Director of National Intelligence in the Trump administration, citing the need to support her husband through his battle with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.
Gabbard notified President Donald Trump of her decision during a meeting in the Oval Office on May 22, 2026. Her resignation will take effect on June 30, 2026, allowing time for a smooth transition.
In her formal resignation letter, Gabbard expressed gratitude to President Trump for the opportunity to serve as DNI for the past year and a half. She described her husband, Abraham Gabbard, as her “rock” during their 11-year marriage and stated that she could not ask him to face his diagnosis alone while continuing in the demanding role.
During her tenure, which began with her swearing-in on February 12, 2025, Gabbard oversaw efforts to reduce the size of the intelligence community, resulting in annual taxpayer savings of more than $700 million. She also led initiatives to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs, declassify hundreds of thousands of pages of government documents related to past investigations, and establish a Weaponization Working Group.
The resignation comes after conservative activist Laura Loomer had repeatedly called for Gabbard’s removal or predicted her departure earlier in 2026. Loomer cited policy disagreements, including Gabbard’s positions during congressional testimony on Iran and questions of loyalty within the intelligence community. In interviews and social media posts, Loomer advocated for President Trump to fire Gabbard rather than allow a resignation.
Fox News first reported the resignation exclusively, confirming the personal health reasons behind the decision.
Gabbard pledged in her letter to ensure continuity in leadership at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. No immediate successor has been announced by the White House.
This development marks the latest change in the Trump administration’s national security team. Gabbard’s departure highlights the personal challenges that can intersect with high-level public service.
