White House National Security Council Faces Major Restructuring
In a significant move to streamline operations, President Trump has initiated substantial reductions within the White House National Security Council (NSC), resulting in the dismissal of numerous policy experts. This move marks a continued effort to minimize what the administration views as bureaucratic redundancy.
The layoffs, which one departing official described as sudden, were communicated late Friday afternoon. Staff members were informed around 4:30 p.m. and were expected to vacate their positions by 5 p.m. “We’re all talking among ourselves,” stated the official, who requested anonymity due to the situation’s sensitivity. Notably, the Middle East division saw its personnel reduced from ten to just five.
A source familiar with the restructuring plans indicated that the changes aim to transfer many responsibilities back to respective home departments and agencies, thereby reducing overlap. This source, also speaking anonymously, emphasized that the intent is to maintain a leaner, more efficient operation.
Despite the extensive cuts, the NSC’s size will remain similar to its status at the conclusion of Trump’s first term in office. Requests for comments from both the White House and the National Security Council were not answered.
The NSC, traditionally composed of experts from the State Department, Pentagon, and various intelligence agencies, advises the president on critical diplomatic and security matters. However, during Trump’s second term, the council’s influence has seemingly diminished. President Trump has increasingly relied on figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for foreign policy guidance.
Recently, President Trump effectively relieved his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, who led the NSC, of his duties. In a notable reshuffle, Trump announced Waltz’s nomination to become the United Nations ambassador.
Secretary Rubio has assumed a unique dual role in overseeing the NSC amidst these changes. This adjustment followed an incident where Waltz inadvertently included a journalist in a private discussion about military strategies for Yemen, leading to his reassignment.
Adjustments Not Unprecedented
Trump’s approach to downsizing the NSC is not new. Late in his first term, he undertook a similar initiative to trim the council’s size. This reorganization was guided by Robert O’Brien, then the national security adviser.
O’Brien, who currently chairs American Global Strategies, recently observed that the NSC remains excessively large and cluttered with personnel from previous administrations. His commentary, published in the Washington Times, partially prompted the latest cuts, as confirmed by a former NSC official.
During the end of Trump’s first term, the NSC had around 110 staff members. O’Brien has suggested that a further reduction to approximately 60 staff, akin to the size under President Eisenhower, would be optimal.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
