Tulsi Gabbard Resigns: US Spy Chief Steps Down From Her Role as Director of National Intelligence After Husband’s Cancer Diagnosis

Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her position as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in President Donald Trump’s administration, citing her husband Abraham’s diagnosis with an “extremely rare form of bone cancer,” according to a resignation letter obtained by Fox News Digital.

Gabbard informed President Trump of her decision during a meeting in the Oval Office on Friday. Her final day as head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is expected to be June 30. US-Iran War: Tulsi Gabbard Defends Donald Trump’s Strike on Iran as NCTC Chief Joe Kent Resigns in Protest.

Gabbard Cites Husband’s Health Battle

In her resignation letter, Gabbard said she was stepping away from public office to support her husband during his treatment. “My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer,” Gabbard wrote.

“At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.” She described Abraham as “my rock” throughout their 11 years of marriage and credited his “strength and love” for helping her through military deployments, political campaigns and her tenure as DNI. Gabbard added that she could not “in good conscience” ask him to face the illness alone while she continued in the demanding intelligence role. Donald Trump Says US ‘May Have to Hit Iran Again’ if Diplomacy Fails After Pausing Planned Military Strike (Watch Video).

Meeting With Trump and Transition Plans

According to the report, Gabbard personally informed President Trump of her decision during a Friday meeting in the Oval Office. She also thanked Trump for appointing her to lead the US intelligence community and said she was “deeply grateful” for the opportunity to serve as DNI over the past year and a half.

Gabbard further pledged to ensure a “smooth and thorough transition” before officially leaving office at the end of June.

Tenure Marked by Intelligence Reforms

Gabbard’s resignation brings an end to a high-profile and often controversial tenure overseeing America’s intelligence agencies. During her time as DNI, she reportedly led major restructuring initiatives aimed at reducing the size of the intelligence apparatus and cutting operational costs by more than USD 700 million annually. Her office also moved to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programmes across intelligence agencies.

Major Declassification Efforts

One of the defining aspects of Gabbard’s tenure was the release of large volumes of previously classified government records. According to the report, more than half a million pages of documents were declassified during her leadership.

The released material included records connected to the Trump-Russia investigation, files related to the assassinations of former US President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy, and documents tied to the origins of the “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Questions Over Successor

The Trump administration has not yet announced who will replace Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence after her departure on June 30.

Her resignation comes at a time when intelligence and national security issues remain central to US domestic and foreign policy discussions ahead of the next election cycle.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 22, 2026 11:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).