Major changes rock NSC as Trump cracks the whip on embattled agency

Washington D.C.: President Donald Trump is implementing a sweeping restructuring of the National Security Council (NSC), reducing its staff by over 100 employees. The shakeup will remove several political appointees while reassigning many career government employees back to their original agencies.

The NSC, established during the Truman administration, advises the president on national security and foreign policy matters. Under Trump, the council has faced turbulence, with recent controversies leading to the ouster of former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has since taken on the role temporarily.

The downsizing is expected to shift influence toward the State Department and Pentagon in shaping foreign policy decisions. Trump has long expressed frustration with bureaucratic resistance to his "America First" agenda, and this move aligns with his effort to streamline decision-making.

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The NSC previously had around 395 staffers, including 180 support personnel. Approximately 90 to 95 policy experts on loan from other agencies will return to their home departments, while some political appointees will be reassigned within the administration.

The overhaul follows weeks of upheaval, including Waltz’s dismissal after far-right activist Laura Loomer accused him of harboring anti-Trump staffers. Loomer, a staunch Trump ally, claimed Waltz failed to properly vet personnel, though Trump denied her direct involvement in the firings.

Waltz’s tenure was further marred by the accidental leak of military plans to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg via an encrypted Signal group chat. His more hawkish stances on Russia, Iran, and China also clashed with Trump’s diplomatic approach.