MAY 23, 2026
Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Director of National Intelligence, Citing Husband's Cancer Diagnosis
Tulsi Gabbard resigned as Director of National Intelligence, with her last day at ODNI expected to be June 30, 2026. Gabbard stated in her formal resignation letter that her husband, Abraham, was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. President Trump named Aaron Lukas, her Principal Deputy Director, as Acting Director of National Intelligence.
Tulsi Gabbard notified President Donald Trump of her resignation during a meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, according to Fox News Digital, which obtained her formal resignation letter. In it, Gabbard wrote that she is "deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me" and cited her husband's illness as the reason for stepping down after approximately a year and a half in the role.
In her letter, Gabbard described her husband Abraham as "my rock throughout our eleven years of marriage," referencing his support during her military deployment to East Africa, multiple political campaigns, and her tenure as DNI. "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 responded Friday on Truth Social, writing that Gabbard had "done a great job" and expressing confidence that her husband would recover. Trump confirmed that Aaron Lukas, described as "highly respected," would serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence.