Log In Get Started
Economy May 22, 2026 01:13 PM

Tulsi Gabbard to Step Down as Director of National Intelligence to Care for Husband

Gabbard cites husband’s diagnosis with a rare bone cancer; last day at ODNI expected June 30

By Hana Yamamoto

Tulsi Gabbard has informed the president she will resign as Director of National Intelligence to support her husband, Abraham, after his diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. She conveyed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and noted progress made under her tenure while acknowledging work remains to be done. Her departure is expected to take effect June 30.

Tulsi Gabbard to Step Down as Director of National Intelligence to Care for Husband

Key Points

  • Tulsi Gabbard is resigning as Director of National Intelligence to support her husband after his diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer.
  • She informed President Trump in an Oval Office meeting on Friday and has submitted a formal resignation letter expressing gratitude and noting achievements at the ODNI; her last day is expected to be June 30.
  • Her resignation is part of a broader pattern of recent senior departures from the administration, including officials in Homeland Security, Justice, and Labor.

Tulsi Gabbard is resigning from her role as Director of National Intelligence to provide support for her husband as he undergoes treatment for cancer, Fox News Digital reported Friday.

Gabbard met with President Trump in the Oval Office on Friday to notify him of her decision. Her final day at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is expected to be June 30.

Fox News Digital obtained Gabbard's formal resignation letter. In that letter, she wrote 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 identified her husband, Abraham, as having "recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer."

In the same letter, Gabbard detailed the work she said was accomplished during her tenure, writing that she has "made significant progress at the ODNI - advancing unprecedented transparency and restoring integrity to the intelligence community." She added that she recognizes "there is still important work to be done."

The announcement follows a pattern of turnover among senior officials in the administration. In recent months, several high-level figures have left their posts, including Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, Pam Bondi as Attorney General, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Labor Secretary.

Gabbard's resignation centers on a personal family health crisis rather than a public policy dispute; her stated priority is to be with her husband during his treatment. Beyond her letter and the Oval Office notification, details about next steps at the ODNI or any immediate successor have not been provided in the available reporting.

Summary

Tulsi Gabbard will step down as Director of National Intelligence to care for her husband, Abraham, who has been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. She informed the president in an Oval Office meeting and submitted a formal resignation letter expressing gratitude for the opportunity to lead the ODNI and noting progress made during her tenure; her last day is expected to be June 30.

Risks

  • Uncertainty about immediate leadership at the ODNI could affect continuity in intelligence operations - impacts the national security and government administration sectors.
  • Ongoing turnover among senior administration officials may complicate policy coordination and implementation - impacts public sector management and regulatory environments.
  • Limited public detail on succession plans or transition timing creates short-term uncertainty for stakeholders reliant on ODNI guidance - impacts defense and security contractors and related markets.

More from Economy

U.S.-Anthropic Tensions Soften as AI Firm Nears Public Listing Jun 5, 2026 May payrolls will help set the tone for Warsh’s first Fed policy test Jun 5, 2026 Hezbollah Rejects Israel-Lebanon Truce, Clouds Prospects for U.S.-Iran Negotiations Jun 5, 2026 Yen Approaches Intervention Threshold as Dollar Strengthens on Gulf Tensions Jun 5, 2026 Markets Weaken as Hezbollah Rejects Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire; U.S. Jobs Report in Focus Jun 5, 2026