Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as U.S. Director of National Intelligence

On May 22, 2026 Tulsi Gabbard delivered a resignation letter to President Donald Trump, effective June 30, 2026. She cited her husband Abraham Williams’ diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer as the sole reason for leaving. The White House confirmed the departure and named Principal Deputy Director Aaron Lukas as acting DNI.

CNN

Trump nominated Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and 2020 presidential candidate, as DNI in February 2025. Her record of opposing U.S. interventions in Iraq, Syria, Venezuela and Iran conflicted with Trump’s later strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and the Venezuelan leadership change.

CNN

• Feb 2025 – Senate confirms Gabbard (52-48).

Jewish Insider

• Mar 2025 – Testifies Iran not pursuing a nuclear weapon.

Tulsi Gabbard resigning as director of national intelligence

• Jun 2025 – Trump orders U.S.–Israeli strikes; dismisses her assessment.

CNN

• Jan 2026 – Appears at FBI’s Fulton County ballot-seizure.

Tulsi Gabbard resigning as director of national intelligence

• Mar 2026 – Reiterates threat judgments belong to the president.

The Marietta Times

• May 22 2026 – Resignation announced, effective June 30.

WITI - Fox 6 - Milwaukee

Gabbard oversaw 18 agencies, declassifying over 500,000 pages—including 2016 Russian interference files, JFK/RFK assassination records, and 2020 election data. She cut staff by roughly 30-40%, projected to save $700 million annually, and revoked clearances for at least 37 officials over politicization concerns.

The Times Herald (Port Huron)

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said Gabbard’s exit was “in light of her husband’s diagnosis” and called forced-resignation claims “slanderous.” Trump posted that she “has done an incredible job, and we will miss her,” and praised Lukas as “highly respected.” The ODNI noted her gratitude for the president’s trust and her pledge for a smooth transition.

Roll Call

Former deputy director Beth Sanner called Gabbard “just not in sync with this administration,” coining “DNI” as “do not invite.” Senate Intelligence Vice-Chair Mark Warner warned the DNI must deliver “objective, fact-based intelligence… regardless of politics.” Democrats such as Adam Schiff said she “politicized intelligence” and that her resignation was the only positive outcome.

The Guardian

Reuters and senior officials reported White House pressure on Gabbard to resign; her office called those claims “100 % false.” Accounts differ on whether her presence at the Fulton County raid was presidentially requested or an overreach. No definitive evidence confirms either version.

CNN

• “I don’t care what she said.” — Donald Trump

(The) Atlantic

• “She's wrong.” — Donald Trump

NPR

• “It is not the intelligence community’s responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat,” — Tulsi Gabbard

CNN

• “She’s just not in sync with this administration,” — Beth Sanner

CNN

Aaron Lukas will act as DNI while a permanent nominee is vetted. Senate hearings are slated after the August recess, likely focusing on Gabbard’s staffing cuts, declassification effort, and the domestic election-investigation precedent.

Tulsi Gabbard resigning as director of national intelligence