Today, Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation as Director of National Intelligence, effective June 30, 2026. The decision follows a recent diagnosis of her husband, Abraham, with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. In her resignation letter, Gabbard stated she must step away from public service to be by his side and provide full support during this critical health battle.
President Donald J. Trump confirmed the transition on Truth Social, praising Gabbard’s work and appointing Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas as her temporary successor. “Tulsi has done an incredible job,” Trump wrote. “Her highly respected Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence.”
Gabbard’s resignation letter detailed her commitment to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence over the past year and a half, noting significant progress in transparency and intelligence community integrity. She emphasized her husband’s role as her “rock” through personal challenges, including her military deployments and political campaigns, and expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her leadership.
The letter concluded: “I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position.” Gabbard stated she will remain “forever grateful” to the American people and those who entrusted her with national service.
