The Trump administration has dramatically reduced the size of the White House National Security Council (NSC), dismissing over 100 staff members in a sweeping overhaul aimed at consolidating national security authority under the State and Defence departments.
The move, carried out on May 23, follows President Donald Trump’s earlier removal of former national security adviser Mike Waltz, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio now serving as interim head of the NSC.
Multiple media outlets, including The Washington Post, Reuters, and CNN, reported that employees received administrative leave notices at around 4:20 pm.
White House National Security Council slashes staff in dramatic restructuring, sources say, only a few dozen staff will remain | Reuters https://t.co/obteSmoDMf
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) May 24, 2025
ET and were given just 30 minutes to vacate their offices in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
The restructuring significantly reduces the NSC’s size from its peak under President Joe Biden, when it included approximately 300 staffers.
An unnamed White House official told Axios, “The NSC is the ultimate Deep State. It’s Marco vs. the Deep State. We’re gutting the Deep State.”
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that entire directorates handling sensitive global issues — such as Ukraine, Kashmir, and African affairs — were affected.
Some directorates may be eliminated or merged, reducing the NSC’s scope from policy formulation to policy execution.
The firings also follow a campaign by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who reportedly flagged several NSC staffers for alleged disloyalty.
Waltz himself was dismissed after sharing sensitive military plans with a journalist, further fuelling internal unrest.
According to the White House’s plan, the NSC’s final headcount will be reduced to around 50 staff members, a stark contrast to previous administrations.
🚨Alert: Trump administration has moved to drastically overhaul the National Security Council (NSC), reportedly firing more than 100 officials and slashing the powerful advisory and coordination body’s staff, as part of what one White House source described as an effort to “gut… pic.twitter.com/MJp4GJap6K
— US Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25) May 24, 2025
The Trump team argues that many NSC functions are redundant and better handled by other agencies, including the Departments of State and Defence.
However, critics, including some Republican lawmakers, warn that dismantling key NSC functions may hinder effective policymaking.
The council traditionally plays a central role in shaping US responses to global crises.
The reshuffle comes amid broader government-wide staff reductions as part of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative, led by Elon Musk, which has already resulted in tens of thousands of federal job cuts.
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