Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as U.S. Intelligence Coordinator Citing Husband's Health

President Trump acknowledged her departure on Truth Social, saying, 'Tulsi has done an incredible job, we will miss her.' He later added that she was 'unfortunately' leaving the administration.

Gabbard's resignation follows a series of departures from the intelligence community. Joe Kent, director of the national center for counter-terrorism, resigned in March over disagreements regarding U.S. policy on Iran.

Series of Resignations

Her deputy, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, also announced her resignation recently, citing a desire to spend more time with family. Aaron Lukas, another deputy, will temporarily replace Gabbard.

Gabbard's tenure was marked by skepticism toward interventionist foreign policies, influenced by her experiences as a reservist in the Iraq war. She clashed with CIA Director John Ratcliffe over bureaucratic and policy differences.

Notably, Gabbard was excluded from a White House meeting discussing next steps in the Iran conflict, attended by Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Policy Disputes and Exclusions

Her political career has been unconventional. After serving as a Democratic representative from 2013 to 2021 and an unsuccessful presidential bid, she left the Democratic Party in 2022, joined the Republicans in 2024, and was appointed intelligence coordinator by Trump later that year.

Critics, including Laura Loomer, have questioned the appointment of Lukas as interim replacement, suggesting other Trump allies would be better suited for the role.

Gabbard's departure comes amid ongoing debates over U.S. intelligence assessments, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities. She had previously told a Senate committee that Iran had not attempted to rebuild its nuclear capabilities since the 2025 airstrikes, contradicting Trump's assertions of an imminent threat.