Tulsi Gabbard resigns as Director of National Intelligence amid reports the White House forced her out

Tulsi Gabbard announced her resignation as Director of National Intelligence on May 22, 2026, effective June 30, citing her husband Abraham Williams's diagnosis with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. A Reuters source reported the White House had forced her out, though Trump publicly praised her work. Principal Deputy DNI Aaron Lukas, a 20-year CIA veteran, will serve as acting director without undergoing Senate confirmation. Gabbard's 16-month tenure was defined by sidelining from consequential decisions: Trump publicly contradicted her Iran nuclear assessment days before ordering strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, and National Security Council staff informally designated her meeting invitations as do-not-invite on both Iran and Venezuela deliberations.