Washington, May 23: US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Friday announced her resignation from the post, saying she is stepping down to support her husband, who has been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. Gabbard shared her resignation letter on X.

"I am deeply grateful for the trust President Trump placed in me and for the opportunity to lead Office of the DNI for the last year and a half. Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026. 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, " Tulsi wrote on her X account.

I am deeply grateful for the trust President Trump placed in me and for the opportunity to lead @ODNIgov for the last year and a half.

Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026. My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare… pic.twitter.com/PS0Dxp5zpd

— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) May 22, 2026

Donald Trump thanked Tulsi Gabbard for her service after she announced her resignation as Director of National Intelligence, and said Aaron Lukas would serve as interim DNI. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Gabbard stepped down to support her husband Abraham, who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.

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However, Reuters reported that the White House had “forced” her resignation.

Earlier, Gabbard had reportedly faced growing criticism within the Trump administration and Congress, with reports suggesting she had been sidelined from key national security decisions. Some Democrats had also questioned her past defence of former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden and her views on former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

At the same time, she earned praise from Trump for criticising Obama-era investigations into alleged Russian election interference. A long-time critic of the Iraq war, Gabbard was at times seen as closely aligned with Vice President JD Vance. She becomes the fourth cabinet member to step down during Trump’s second term, with all four being women. Gabbard submitted her resignation on Friday, signing off the letter with the words, “With love and aloha.”

This article is written by Sunil Kumar Dash.