The Trump administration has made significant changes to the White House National Security Council, dismissing scores of staffers in an effort to downsize the coordinating body. The move comes under new national security adviser Marco Rubio, who has emerged as a key figure in the administration.
According to sources familiar with the matter, most NSC staffers are being reassigned to their home agencies, including the State Department, Pentagon and intelligence agencies. However, two new deputy national security advisers have been appointed: Andy Baker and Robert Gabriel.
The cuts were made under pressure from President Trump’s allies, who argue that the National Security Council (NSC) should be streamlined to a smaller size, similar to its role in past administrations. Former officials say that a leaner NSC would require greater authority to be granted to other national security agencies.
Former advisors to the Obama and Clinton administrations have expressed concerns about the potential loss of expertise and information in the NSC. “Whatever your view of esoteric debates about its size or org chart, that’s an enormous national asset to just throw away at a time when the challenges the United States faces get more daunting by the day,” said Jonathan Finer, former deputy national security adviser under President Joe Biden.
The changes come after a series of high-profile firings in the NSC staff during Trump’s first term. The White House has emphasized that the new approach is intended to ensure that the president receives the best information possible and that his policies are effectively implemented.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/05/23/national-security-council-trump-rubio