Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Director of National Intelligence to Support Husband's Health Battle
Tulsi Gabbard Steps Down from ODNI Role
Tulsi Gabbard has made the decision to resign from her position as Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to care for her husband, who has been diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer. As reported by a news outlet, Gabbard communicated her resignation to President Donald Trump during a meeting at the Oval Office on Friday. Her last day in the role is anticipated to be June 30, 2026.
In her resignation letter, Gabbard expressed gratitude to Trump for the confidence he showed in her and for the opportunity to lead the ODNI for the past year and a half. She stated, "Regrettably, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026," citing her husband's recent diagnosis as the reason for her departure.
Gabbard emphasized the significant challenges her husband, Abraham, will face in the upcoming weeks and months, stating that she needs to step away from her public duties to provide him with the necessary support. She referred to her husband as "my rock throughout our eleven years of marriage," acknowledging his unwavering support during her military service, political endeavors, and time in office.
She noted, "His strength and love have been my foundation through every obstacle," and expressed that she could not, in good conscience, allow him to confront this battle alone while she remains in a demanding role.
Reflecting on her time at ODNI, Gabbard mentioned the progress made in enhancing transparency and reforming the intelligence community, while recognizing that important tasks remain. She assured that she is dedicated to facilitating a seamless transition in leadership to avoid any disruption.
During her leadership, Gabbard worked on reducing the size of the intelligence community, resulting in savings of over $700 million annually for taxpayers. She also played a key role in declassifying numerous government documents, including those related to the Trump-Russia investigation and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.
Additionally, she initiated a "Weaponization Working Group" to investigate the alleged political misuse of government agencies during the previous administration. Under her guidance, the National Counterterrorism Center successfully prevented over 10,000 individuals associated with narco-terrorism from entering the United States in 2025 and added more than 85,000 individuals with similar alleged connections to the terror watchlist.