• Tulsi Gabbard resigns as director of national intelligence, effective June 30.
• Her resignation follows her husband's diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer.
• Trump praises her contributions while appointing Aaron Lukas as acting director.

Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation as the director of national intelligence on Friday, citing the need to support her husband, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. In her resignation letter, she expressed gratitude to President Trump for the opportunity to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, stating, "I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position," according to CBS News and NPR.

Gabbard’s resignation, effective June 30, 2026, adds her to the list of several Cabinet officials departing from the Trump administration. She communicated her decision to Trump during an Oval Office meeting. In her letter, she conveyed her deep appreciation for the trust placed in her leadership and her intention to prioritize family during this critical time, as reported by South China Morning Post and BBC.

President Trump publicly commended Gabbard's service, stating she had done "an incredible job" and would be missed. Furthermore, he announced that Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas would take over as acting director following her exit, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

During her time as director, Gabbard faced significant challenges, including navigating her position during U.S. military actions, which often conflicted with her personal and political beliefs on foreign intervention. Her comments on the Iran nuclear threat were notably at odds with Trump's perspective, reflecting ongoing tensions within the administration, as noted by Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.