U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her post in response to her husband’s recent diagnosis of a rare form of bone cancer.
“I am deeply grateful for the trust President Trump placed in me and for the opportunity to lead ODNI [The Office of the Director of National Intelligence] for the last year and a half. Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026,” Gabbard wrote in her announcement on X.
“My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. He 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 added.
President Trump Reacts to Gabbard's Resignation
President Donald Trump praised Gabbard and her work as DNI on Truth Social.
In addition, President Trump announced Aaron Lukas, Principal Deputy DNI, will take her place after her resignation.
“I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever,” President Trump wrote, referring to Gabbard’s husband’s condition.
“Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her. Her highly respected Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence."
Assuming office on Feb 12, 2025, Gabbard made history as the first female combat veteran, first Pacific Islander American, and first Hindu American to lead the U.S. intelligence community.
Gabbard's Efforts to Reshape the Intelligence Community
According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Gabbard sought to reshape the intelligence community through staffing cuts, restructuring, and an emphasis on border security and counterterrorism.
As part of her efforts, Gabbard launched “ONDI 2.0,” an initiative to “reduce bloat by over 40% and save taxpayers $700+ million per year,” per the DNI website.
ONDI 2.0 aimed to “eliminate redundant missions, functions and personnel,” while making “critical investments in areas that support the President’s national intelligence priorities.”
The initiative “focuses on rebuilding trust, exposing politicization and weaponization of intelligence, holding bad actors accountable, saving American tax dollars, and focusing on our core mission: protecting the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.”
