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Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Director of National Intelligence Effective June 30
Tulsi Gabbard will step down as director of national intelligence on June 30, citing her husband's recent diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer. President Trump named Aaron Lukas as acting director.
May 22, 4:30 PM·1m read3 sources
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Tulsi Gabbard will resign as director of national intelligence on June 30, according to a letter she posted on social media. She said her husband of 11 years, Abraham Williams, was recently diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer and faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months.
"His strength and love have sustained me through every challenge," Gabbard wrote. She previously represented Hawaii in Congress as a Democrat from 2013 to 2021 and later joined the Republican Party. Her departure marks the fourth Cabinet-level exit during Trump's second term.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer left earlier this year.
" He announced that Principal Deputy Director Aaron Lukas will serve as acting director. Gabbard had been largely out of public view this year even as the United States conducted military action against Iran and applied pressure on Cuba and Venezuela.
" — President Donald Trump, May 2026 (BBC News) Aaron Lukas previously served as an intelligence aide to the acting director of national intelligence in 2020 and as deputy senior director for Europe and Russia at the National Security Council during Trump's first term.
