WASHINGTON — Tulsi Gabbard announced on Friday that she is resigning as Director of National Intelligence, following her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
Gabbard is stepping down after her husband, Abraham Williams, was recently diagnosed with “an extremely rare form of bone cancer,” according to a resignation letter she posted to social media.
“At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle,” she wrote. She said her last day would be June 30.
Trump said on Truth Social that Gabbard has done “an incredible job, and we will miss her,” and said he had no doubt her husband would “soon be better than ever.”
The president added that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas will serve as acting DNI.
The news of Gabbard’s departure was first reported by Fox News.
“While we have made significant progress,” Gabbard wrote to Trump, “I recognize there is still important work to be done.”
As a congresswoman, Democratic presidential candidate, and supporter of Trump’s 2024 campaign, Gabbard described herself as a staunch opponent of America’s misguided military interventions overseas. She specifically mentioned the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as U.S. assistance to rebels in Libya and Syria.
During Trump’s first term in office, Gabbard strongly criticized his handling of Iran and his decision to pull the United States out of a 2015 nuclear agreement.
Gabbard’s departure marks the latest Cabinet-level shakeup of Trump’s second term after departures by former Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier this year.
Gabbard also leaves office amid continuing fallout from the administration’s investigations into the 2016 and 2020 elections, including the investigation in Georgia, where her role drew backlash from both Republicans and Democrats.
In August, Gabbard blindsided CIA officials when she disclosed the name of an undercover CIA officer on a list of people she stripped of security clearances, according to NBC News.
