Tulsi Gabbard has announced her resignation as U.S. national intelligence director, saying she is stepping down to care for her husband after he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.
In a statement shared on X and in a resignation letter first reported by Fox News, Gabbard said her resignation would take effect on 30 June 2026.
“I am 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 wrote to President Donald Trump.
Gabbard said her husband, Abraham Williams, “has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer,” adding that he now 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,” she said.
Her departure creates a major vacancy within the U.S. intelligence community at a time of heightened global tensions, including ongoing conflicts involving Iran, China, Russia and security concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who later aligned politically with Trump, had served as director of national intelligence for about 18 months. During her tenure, she oversaw coordination among America’s intelligence agencies and regularly briefed the president on national security matters.
The White House has not yet announced who will replace her.
