Tulsi Gabbard to resign as US national intelligence director

May 22, 2026

Tulsi Gabbard is stepping down as US Director of National Intelligence to care for her husband Abraham, who was recently diagnosed with bone cancer, with her resignation taking effect June 30th. During her tenure, she oversaw significant staff reductions at intelligence agencies and navigated tensions with President Trump over Iran policy, particularly regarding nuclear capabilities and military intervention. The former Hawaii congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate had transformed from a Democratic anti-interventionist to a Republican Trump ally before her appointment.

Who is affected

Tulsi Gabbard (resigning Director of National Intelligence)
Abraham Williams (Gabbard's husband diagnosed with bone cancer)
Aaron Lukas (principal deputy director becoming acting director)
President Donald Trump (losing cabinet member)
Intelligence community staff (experiencing workforce reductions)
Joe Kent (former top aide who previously resigned)

What action is being taken

Tulsi Gabbard is resigning from her position as Director of National Intelligence
Aaron Lukas is stepping in as acting director
The intelligence community is undergoing staff reductions (cut by almost 50%)
Gabbard is leaving to care for her husband during his cancer treatment

Why it matters

This resignation removes a controversial but powerful figure from US intelligence leadership during a period of significant international tension, particularly regarding Iran and other geopolitical conflicts. Gabbard's departure represents continued instability in Trump's second-term cabinet, marking the fourth high-level departure. Her leadership had already created tension with the president over intelligence assessments related to Iran's nuclear program, and her massive workforce reductions had fundamentally reshaped the intelligence community's structure and capacity.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC