Tulsi Gabbard has stepped down from her position as the director of national intelligence under the administration of Donald Trump. The 45-year-old Republican cited her decision to resign as a move to support her husband Abraham Williams, who is fighting a rare form of bone cancer.
Having previously run in the Democratic presidential primaries against Joe Biden in 2020 before switching to the Republican party, Gabbard becomes the fourth cabinet member to leave office during Trump’s second term. Her resignation will take effect on June 30, as indicated in a letter she posted on social media.
Trump acknowledged Gabbard’s service, praising her work and appointing her principal deputy, Aaron Lukas, as the acting director of national intelligence. In her resignation letter addressed to Trump, Gabbard expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, highlighting her commitment to a smooth transition.
Citing her husband’s health struggles as the primary reason for her resignation, Gabbard emphasized her need to step away from public service to support her spouse during his challenging battle with cancer. She acknowledged the ongoing work at the ODNI and pledged to ensure a seamless transition to maintain continuity in leadership.
Expressing appreciation for the understanding during this personal and difficult time, Gabbard thanked Trump and the American people for the honor of serving as DNI.
