Dozens of staffers were dismissed from the White House National Security Council (NSC) on Friday as President Donald Trump initiated a major downsizing and restructuring of the agency, according to five informed sources. The layoffs impacted personnel handling major global issues, including Ukraine and Kashmir, and come shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio replaced Mike Waltz as national security adviser.
The move marks a significant shift in U.S. national security strategy. The NSC, once central to shaping policy, will now focus more on executing Trump’s directives. Sources say this will expand the influence of the State Department, Pentagon, and intelligence agencies, reducing the NSC headcount to around 50, down from over 300 under former President Joe Biden.
Inside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, scenes of chaos and emotional farewells unfolded as staff were informed of their removal. While some staff will transition to other federal roles, others are uncertain about their future. The restructuring also includes merging or eliminating entire NSC directorates, such as those handling African affairs and multilateral organizations like NATO.
Conservatives have long called for trimming the NSC, criticizing it as bloated and duplicative. However, critics argue the downsizing could weaken the administration’s access to expert analysis, potentially undermining national security. The council has struggled to attract top talent recently, with critical positions left unfilled and morale hit hard by prior controversies—including the dismissal of staff seen as disloyal and a major leak under former adviser Waltz.
Trump’s overhaul aims to tighten loyalty and streamline policy execution, but experts warn it could limit the U.S.’s strategic depth in handling complex international crises. The NSC, once the nerve center of American foreign policy, now faces an uncertain future under Trump’s more centralized and controlled governance model.