As of today, Friday, May 22, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has announced her resignation, effective June 30, 2026. She cited her husband’s recent diagnosis with a rare form of bone cancer as the reason for her departure.
Her departure is just part of a broader trend happening this year and an echo of the defections and terminations during Trump’s first term. Gabbard’s announcement follows a string of other high-level exits, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Department Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Additionally, the earlier resignation of Joe Kent (Director of the National Counterterrorism Center) in March—who stepped down over objections to the administration's policy regarding the war in Iran—serves as a primary example of the internal friction currently affecting Trump’s cabinet.
The Treasury Resignation
The resignation of Brian Morrissey preceded the most recent major announcement.
On May 18, 2026, Brian Morrissey, the Treasury Department’s General Counsel, resigned from his position. His departure occurred just hours after the Trump administration announced the creation of a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund."
Mr. Morrissey, who had been confirmed by the Senate only seven months prior, did not issue a public statement regarding his reasons for leaving, though his exit is widely interpreted by political analysts as a reaction to the fund’s establishment.
The $1.776 Billion "Anti-Weaponization" Fund
This fund has emerged as a central point of contention within Washington. The fund was established as part of a deal in which President Trump agreed to dismiss his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury and is designed to compensate individuals who claim to have been harmed by the "weaponization" of the federal government during the Biden administration.
The money is reportedly being drawn from the Treasury Department’s "Judgment Fund," a permanent appropriation that bypasses the need for new congressional approval. As General Counsel of the Treasury Department, Morrissey would have had to oversee and sign off on the disbursements in his official capacity.
The initiative has faced intense scrutiny. Nearly 100 House Democrats have filed an amicus brief, labeling the arrangement "blatant self-dealing" and raising significant concerns regarding the lack of oversight and the potential for the fund to benefit political allies, including January 6 defendants.
Miss Cynthia Brown is the Founder and CEO of the Heartbeat Movement Inc., Chair of the The Ohio Coalition to End Qualified Immunity Founder and The Ohio Coalition for Police Accountability and Transparency.