Director of National Intelligence resignation: Tulsi Gabbard steps down to support husband's cancer care

Tulsi Gabbard resigned as President Donald Trumps director of national intelligence on Friday. Tulsi Gabbard said the decision was driven by a family health crisis. Tulsi Gabbard became the fourth Cabinet official to leave during Trumps second term. Tulsi Gabbard shared the resignation in a letter posted on social media.

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In the letter, Tulsi Gabbard said the departure date would be June 30. Tulsi Gabbard wrote that her husband was recently diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. Tulsi Gabbard said the illness would bring serious challenges in the coming weeks. The letter was earlier reported by Fox News.

Tulsi Gabbard resignation and Trump response

"At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle,\" Tulsi Gabbard wrote. Trump also posted about the resignation on social media. \"Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her.\" Trump said Aaron Lukas will serve as acting director of national intelligence.

Aaron Lukas is Tulsi Gabbards principal deputy. During Trumps first term, Lukas worked as an intelligence aide in 2020. Lukas supported the acting director of national intelligence, Ric Grenell. Lukas also worked at the Cato Institute as a policy analyst. Lukas later served at the National Security Council, focused on Europe and Russia.

Tulsi Gabbard and Iran tensions inside the administration

Speculation had grown that Tulsi Gabbard might break with Trump after the Iran strike. The decision created disagreement within the administration. The US joined Israel in attacks on Iran on February 28. Tulsi Gabbard, a veteran and former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, built a profile opposing foreign wars.

At a congressional hearing in March, Tulsi Gabbard avoided endorsing Trumps Iran decision. Tulsi Gabbard repeatedly sidestepped questions about White House warnings. Lawmakers asked about fallout from the conflict, including Irans effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Those exchanges drew attention to Tulsi Gabbards careful wording.

In written remarks to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Tulsi Gabbard addressed Irans nuclear status. Tulsi Gabbard said there had been no effort to rebuild nuclear capability. Tulsi Gabbard pointed to US attacks last year that obliterated Irans nuclear program. The statement clashed with Trumps repeated claim of an imminent threat.

Lawmakers pressed Tulsi Gabbard on the danger posed by Iran. The questions led to awkward exchanges with the nations top intelligence official. Tulsi Gabbard said the strike decision belonged to Trump. \"It is not the intelligence communitys responsibility to determine what is and is not an imminent threat,\" Tulsi Gabbard said.

Another departure linked to the Iran debate came earlier in the year. Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned in March. Joe Kent said the reason was opposition to the war. Joe Kent said he cannot in good conscience back the war.

Tulsi Gabbard and other Cabinet departures in Trumps second term

Tulsi Gabbards exit followed other high-level changes in the Cabinet. Trump ousted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in late March. The removal came amid criticism over immigration enforcement and disaster response. Attorney General Pam Bondi later resigned over handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned in April after misconduct investigations.

Tulsi Gabbard background and why the ODNI pick surprised observers

Tulsi Gabbard was seen as an unexpected pick to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Tulsi Gabbard was a veteran but lacked intelligence agency experience. The ODNI oversees 18 intelligence agencies. The office was set up after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Its goal was stronger coordination across intelligence bodies.

Tulsi Gabbard ran for president in 2020 on a progressive platform. Tulsi Gabbard opposed US military involvement in foreign conflicts. Tulsi Gabbard argued Middle East wars had destabilised the region. Tulsi Gabbard said those wars made the US less safe. Tulsi Gabbard said the wars cost thousands of American lives.

Tulsi Gabbard later dropped out of the 2020 race. Tulsi Gabbard endorsed the eventual winner, President Joe Biden. Two years later, Tulsi Gabbard left the Democratic Party and became an independent. Tulsi Gabbard said the party was run by an elitist cabal of warmongers and woke ideologues. Tulsi Gabbard then backed several Republicans and contributed to Fox News.

Tulsi Gabbard later endorsed Trump, who criticised earlier Middle East wars. Trump campaigned on avoiding unnecessary wars and nation-building abroad. However, tensions began early in Trumps second term after Tulsi Gabbard took the ODNI role. Shortly after starting, Tulsi Gabbard testified that no intelligence suggested Iran sought nuclear weapons. After June strikes, Trump said Tulsi Gabbard was wrong and dismissed the comments.

Tulsi Gabbard later appeared closer to Trump during disputes over the 2020 election. Tulsi Gabbard played a visible role in efforts to relitigate Trumps loss to Biden. Tulsi Gabbard appeared at an FBI search of election offices in Fulton County, Georgia. The ODNI was designed to address foreign espionage, not state elections. That appearance drew scrutiny.

Tulsi Gabbard changes at ODNI and whistleblower complaint

Tulsi Gabbard promised to end what Tulsi Gabbard called politicisation by insiders. Yet Tulsi Gabbard used the office to support Trumps claim of winning in 2020. Tulsi Gabbard also worked to challenge earlier findings on Trumps ties to Russia. Over one year, Tulsi Gabbard oversaw a sharp cut in the intelligence workforce. Tulsi Gabbard also created a task force to review major changes.

Earlier this year, an intelligence sector whistleblower filed a complaint about Tulsi Gabbard. The complaint alleged Tulsi Gabbard was withholding intelligence for political reasons. Democrats cited the complaint while calling for Tulsi Gabbards resignation. Those developments added to pressure around the office during Trumps second term.

Tulsi Gabbard, 44, was born in the US territory of American Samoa. Tulsi Gabbard was raised in Hawaii and spent one childhood year in the Philippines. Tulsi Gabbard was first elected at 21 to Hawaiis House of Representatives. Tulsi Gabbard left after one term when a National Guard unit deployed to Iraq. Tulsi Gabbard later served four terms in the House.

Tulsi Gabbard became the first Hindu member of the House. Tulsi Gabbard was sworn in with a hand on the Bhagavad Gita. Tulsi Gabbard was also the first American Samoan elected to Congress. During House service, Tulsi Gabbard often challenged party leadership. Early support for Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 primary run boosted national recognition in progressive politics.

Tulsi Gabbard said the resignation was necessary as the family faced a difficult period. Trump said Aaron Lukas would step in as acting director of national intelligence. The departure added to a growing list of Cabinet changes in Trumps second term. The White House did not cite other reasons in the public statements shared online.

With inputs from PTI