Tulsi Gabbard Resigns As US Director Of National Intelligence From Trump Cabinet, Last Day 30 June: Reports

Washington: US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard is resigning from her post in President Donald Trump’s administration, a foreign media report claimed. According to the reports, Gabbard is resigning from her post to support her husband in his fight against a serious illness. The decision to resign brings to a close her tenure leading the office of the director of national intelligence, a role she has held for the past year and a half.

According to Fox News Digital, which first obtained Gabbard’s formal resignation letter, the DNI informed President Trump of her decision during a meeting in the Oval Office on Friday. Her departure from ODNI is expected to take effect on 30 June 2026, giving the administration several weeks to manage the transition.

Reports suggested that Gabbard’s resignation revolves around a personal matter. In her letter, she disclosed that her husband, Abraham, has been diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer” and will face “major challenges in the coming weeks and months.”

Resignation Letter Details Personal Reasons

In the letter exclusively obtained, Tulsi Gabbard wrote that she is “deeply grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for the last year and a half.” She further added, “Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026. My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.”

Explaining her decision to leave public service, Gabbard stated, “At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.” 

She termed Abraham as her “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 added.

Transition And Tenure At ODNI

Gabbard noted in her letter that she has “made significant progress at the ODNI — advancing unprecedented transparency and restoring integrity to the intelligence community”, though she acknowledged “there is still important work to be done”. She pledged her commitment to a smooth handover, saying, “I am fully committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition over the coming weeks so that you and your team experience no disruption in leadership or momentum.”

Reuters also reported the resignation on Friday, citing Fox News Digital’s reporting of Gabbard’s letter.

US President Donald Trump, in his post on social media, said, "Unfortunately, after having done a great job, Tulsi Gabbard will be leaving the Administration on June 30th. Her wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together. I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever. Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her. Her highly respected Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence."

During her time as DNI, Gabbard undertook a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific region, with stops in Hawaii, Japan, Thailand, India and France, according to an ODNI readout from March 2025. Born and raised in the Indo-Pacific, she brought what the ODNI described as a “nuanced understanding of the area’s crucial partnerships and complex challenges” while exploring opportunities to advance “President Trump’s America First policies across the Indo-Pacific.”

Gabbard’s husband’s diagnosis has prompted her to prioritise family at a critical time. Her last day at ODNI is expected to be June 30, and President Trump has been informed of her decision.