Intel chief Gabbard resigns, latest high-profile departure since Iran War began - National & International News -

Intel chief Tulsi Gabbard resigns in latest high-profile departure since Iran War began

Tulsi Gabbard, chief of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, announced her departure from office on social media today. In her post, Gabbard cited her husband’s recent cancer diagnosis as her reason for leaving. However, a source has told Reuters that she was forced out. “She was pushed out by the White House,” the source said. “The White House has been unhappy with her for quite some time”.

Gabbard is just the latest of several high-profile officials in the security or military establishment who have departed their posts (whether through firing or resigning) since the Iran war began on February 28. Joe Kent, the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and top deputy to Gabbard, departed on March 17. In his resignation letter and subsequent media appearances, Kent said he left due to his opposition to the Iran war.

In early April, War Secretary Pete Hegseth forced out Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. On the same day, sources say Hegseth fired Gen. David Hodne, head of the Army’s Transformation and Training Command and Maj. Gen. William Green, the Army chief of chaplains. Less than three weeks later, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was fired. With the exception of Kent, none of these officials have divulged their reasons for leaving or the cause of their dismissal.

A political chameleon

A veteran and former Democratic Congresswoman, Gabbard has been something of a political chameleon. In 2020, she ran for president as a left-leaning anti-war Democrat. Then in 2024, she joined the Republican party and endorsed Trump, saying he “has the courage and strength to fight for peace”. This was after she’d criticized him in 2020 for breaking his promise to avoid “forever war” by escalating tensions with the Middle East, and specifically Iran.

As ODNI chief, Gabbard has not publicly opposed actions by the Trump administration, even those that clashed with her stance against wars of choice. During Congressional hearings after the Iran war began, Gabbard declined to endorse the Trump administration’s justifications for going to war – namely Trump’s claim that Iran was rebuilding its nuclear enrichment program. Trump recently said that he and Gabbard did not agree on how to approach Iran.