On Friday, a wave of dismissals swept through the White House National Security Council (NSC), as numerous staffers were abruptly let go amidst a broader effort by the Trump administration to downsize this crucial coordinating body. Sources familiar with the situation revealed that both career officials detailed to the NSC and political appointees were affected by this shake-up. These individuals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of personnel matters, expressed concern over the implications of such drastic changes.
The cuts were implemented under President Donald Trump’s newly appointed national security adviser, Marco Rubio, who is also serving as secretary of state. Rubio's appointment earlier this month followed the ousting of former national security adviser Michael Waltz, who faced criticism over a series of missteps. President Trump has indicated plans to nominate Waltz for the position of ambassador to the United Nations, highlighting the ongoing shifts in national security leadership.
At this stage, the full extent of the staff cuts remains unclear. Many NSC employees are detailed from various federal agencies, including the State Department, the Pentagon, and intelligence agencies, and are expected to return to their home agencies following these dismissals. A White House official confirmed that significant reductions had occurred, noting the appointment of two new deputy national security advisers: Andy Baker, who previously served as national security adviser to Vice President JD Vance, and Robert Gabriel, a policy adviser to Trump.
Following Waltz's departure, administration officials have hinted that a major scale-back of the NSC was on the horizon. Critics argue that the NSC had become excessively bloated under previous administrations. Trump’s allies have advocated for adopting a model championed by former national security adviser Brent Scowcroft, who emphasized a lean staff structure during his tenures in the role. “The NSC is not there as a think tank or shadow department,” remarked Alexander Gray, a former NSC chief of staff during Trump’s first term, in a recent interview. He emphasized that the NSC's primary function is to coordinate and implement initiatives originating from various federal departments while ensuring presidential decisions are executed effectively.
In an op-ed for the Washington Times, Gray and former national security adviser Robert O’Brien highlighted that Trump inherited an NSC staff of over 300 officials from former President Obama and his immediate predecessor, President Joe Biden. They contended that this approach contradicted historical models of effective NSC staffing, advocating for a streamlined policy staff of around 60 individuals, similar to that of the Eisenhower administration.
However, some former officials expressed skepticism about the feasibility of a leaner NSC effectively managing national security policy without granting greater authority to other agencies. “I don’t see the Trump administration deferring national security policy to the State Department,” stated Philip Gordon, who served as national security adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris during the Biden administration, pointing to Trump's personalized leadership style. “The president is going to run everything,” Gordon noted, suggesting that if Trump intends to maintain tight control, he should ensure the NSC has the necessary staffing to operate effectively.
A former senior NSC staffer from Trump’s initial term cautioned against equating the size of the NSC with its effectiveness. “The NSC is a mechanism to ensure that the president’s policies are implemented and that he receives the best information possible,” the former aide explained. “Cutting staff can hinder the ability to achieve these objectives.”
Historically, the NSC has been composed primarily of apolitical experts dedicated to helping the president navigate significant global crises. Jonathan Finer, who served as deputy national security adviser under Biden, emphasized that regardless of debates regarding its size or organizational structure, the council represents an invaluable national asset at a time when challenges—ranging from terrorism to geopolitical tensions with China and Russia—are increasingly complex.
Throughout Trump’s first term, internal conflicts within the NSC often shaped the administration's foreign policy, contributing to high turnover among key personnel. Notably, Trump had four national security advisers during his presidency, with John Bolton, the longest-serving, becoming a vocal critic of Trump's foreign policy approach. As the NSC undergoes these significant changes, the implications for U.S. national security strategy remain to be seen.
