Tulsi Gabbard is resigning as director of national intelligence
Originally Published: 22 MAY 26 13:19 ET
Updated: 22 MAY 26 13:35 ET
By Kevin Liptak, Kaitlan Collins, Kristen Holmes, CNN
(CNN) — Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced Friday that she’s resigning at the end of June, citing her husband’s diagnosis with cancer.
“Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” she wrote in a letter President Donald Trump. “My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.”
Over the last few weeks, White House officials heard rumors that Gabbard was planning to leave. But as of two weeks ago, she was denying she was leaving the administration, a senior administration official said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did Gabbard’s office.
Her tenure was riddled with contradictory and confusing messaging, particularly on the US war with Iran, which at times put her at odds and out of favor with the White House.
Gabbard will be the latest Cabinet member to depart, following Trump’s recent ousters of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Gabbard is an Army National Guard veteran and former Democratic congresswoman who represented Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, making history as the first American Samoan and practicing Hindu in Congress. She ran for president as a Democrat in 2020, touting herself as an Iraq War veteran with an anti-interventionist foreign policy, before leaving the party two years later.
She went on to endorse Trump in 2024, campaigning with him and helping him prepare for his debate with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Gabbard joined the GOP before the election and served on Trump’s transition team after he won. Trump tapped her to serve as director of national intelligence, the top post overseeing the 18 agencies that make up the intelligence community.
This story has been updated with additional details.
The-CNN-Wire
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