Tulsi Gabbard has announced her resignation as the United States Director of National Intelligence. The announcement came on Friday (May 22), triggering fresh political debate within President Donald Trump’s second-term administration. On the same day, Kevin Warsh officially took office as the new Chairman of the Federal Reserve, sparking renewed discussions in Washington over national security, economic policy, and administrative stability.
According to U.S. media reports, Gabbard — who oversees the country’s 18 intelligence agencies — will formally step down on June 30. In her resignation letter, she stated that her husband has been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she wants to devote more time to her family, prompting her decision to “step away from public service.”
Gabbard had been appointed as Director of National Intelligence at the beginning of Trump’s second term. Her resignation less than a month after taking office has raised new questions within the administration, although government sources insist the decision is entirely personal and family-related.
Political analysts believe Gabbard’s departure marks a significant change in the Trump administration’s national security structure. A former congresswoman known for her controversial yet influential political profile, Gabbard had already been at the center of debates in Washington over intelligence and security policies.
Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh was sworn in as the 17th Chairman of the Federal Reserve on the same day. President Trump has long advocated for lower interest rates and had publicly criticized former Fed Chair Jerome Powell. As a result, Warsh’s appointment is being viewed as an important part of Trump’s economic agenda.
After taking office, Warsh said he aims to build a “reform-oriented Federal Reserve.” Trump, however, publicly stated that he wants the new chairman to work independently, saying, “Don’t look at me — make your own decisions and do a good job.”
Economists warn that Warsh is assuming leadership at a difficult time for the U.S. economy. Ongoing instability in the Middle East and tensions surrounding Iran have increased inflation risks, raising concerns that interest rates may need to rise again in the future instead of being reduced.
Separately, President Trump announced that after attending a political event in New York on Friday, he would cancel his weekend plans in New Jersey and return to Washington. He also said he would not attend his son Don Jr.’s wedding. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “At this critical time for the country, it is necessary to remain at the White House.”
At the same time, another senior Trump administration official, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, has come under renewed scrutiny. According to published documents, Lutnick donated $5 million to a political committee supporting House Republicans while Congress was investigating his alleged connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Political observers say that the early months of Trump’s second term are already being shaped by debates over national security, economic policy, and government transparency — issues that could intensify political tensions in the months ahead.
