The Trump administration abruptly dismissed dozens of staffers from the White House National Security Council (NSC) as part of a major downsizing led by new National Security Adviser and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The reduction affects both career officials and political appointees and returns the NSC to its size at the end of Trump’s first term.
The NSC, historically a key advisory body staffed by experts from across national security agencies, has seen its role diminished in Trump’s second term. Trump now relies more on trusted cabinet officials like Rubio and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff for foreign policy decisions. The cuts follow a push by former adviser Robert O’Brien to streamline the NSC to as few as 60 staffers. Simultaneously, the Justice Department has removed career attorneys and installed political appointees to defend Trump’s policies in court, reflecting a broader effort to reshape government staffing in line with his agenda.
