White House National Security Council slashes staff in dramatic restructuring

White House National Security Council slashes staff in dramatic restructuring

The White House National Security Council (NSC) has undergone a significant restructuring, with a substantial reduction in its workforce. This move, announced on Friday, is part of President Donald Trump's strategy to trim down the council's size and transition it from a policymaking entity to one that primarily implements the president's agenda [2].

The restructuring has seen the dismissal of dozens of employees, including personnel handling critical geopolitical issues such as Ukraine and Kashmir. Among those leaving the NSC are Eric Trager, who had been handling the Middle East; Alex Wong, principal deputy national security adviser; and Andrew Peek, who handled European matters [1].

The NSC's communications team is also being dissolved as part of the restructuring. The White House has referred requests for comment to its press team. The changes come three weeks after Marco Rubio took over the national security adviser role, replacing Mike Waltz, who was pushed out due to perceived staffing issues and his involvement in a controversial Signal group chat [1].

The NSC's role is being redefined to focus more on execution rather than policymaking. The administration has appointed the vice-president's national security adviser Andy Baker and White House deputy chief of staff Robert Gabriel as dual-hatted deputy national security advisers for the NSC. This move is expected to enhance the roles of other agencies in national security and intelligence [2].

The restructuring is part of a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has been actively pursuing significant reductions across various federal agencies. The administration has previously implemented major staff cuts at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) [2].

The NSC has struggled to attract top talent, with key roles remaining unfilled. The downsizing has sparked concerns among some Democrats and Republicans about the potential impact on policy expertise. The administration plans to reduce the NSC's size to approximately 50 individuals, down from over 300 under former President Joe Biden [2].

References:
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-national-security-council-trimmed-in-restructuring/
[2] https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45599865/white-house-national-security-council-faces-staff-reductions-as-part-of-major-restructuring-report