NSC Restructure Sends Detailees Back to Agencies \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump has initiated a sweeping overhaul of the National Security Council, drastically reducing staff and returning many detailees to their original agencies. The move is part of a broader push to align the NSC with Trump’s second-term agenda. Secretary of State Marco Rubio now serves as national security adviser following Mike Waltz’s departure.
Quick Looks
- Major Shakeup: NSC undergoing major downsizing under Trump’s directive.
- Detailees Sent Back: Career staffers reassigned to their home agencies.
- Rubio’s Role Expanded: Secretary of State Marco Rubio now oversees national security strategy.
- Political Firings: Multiple appointees dismissed amid internal scrutiny.
- Loyalty Questions: Reshuffle follows criticism from far-right allies.
- Previous Suspensions: 160 NSC staff sidelined early in the term.
- NSC in Turmoil: Frequent personnel changes plague the Council.
- White House Confirms: Overhaul confirmed, though full details withheld.
Deep Look
President Donald Trump is enacting a sweeping restructuring of the National Security Council (NSC), drastically downsizing its personnel and sending dozens of government employees — many of them career detailees — back to their original agencies, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The shake-up reflects Trump’s continued efforts in his second term to mold the national security apparatus into one more aligned with his political and foreign policy priorities.
According to two U.S. officials and one source with direct knowledge of the changes, this overhaul represents a significant reduction in NSC staff, part of a broader move to “liquidate” personnel seen as out of step with the president’s vision.
“This is about loyalty and alignment,” said one person familiar with the internal discussions. “The president wants an NSC that reflects his worldview.”
Career Detailees and Political Appointees Removed
The changes impact both career government employees, who are often temporarily assigned to the NSC from agencies like the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence community, as well as several political appointees brought in earlier in the administration. Many of these detailees were sent back to their home agencies during a staffing review that began just days into Trump’s second term, affecting about 160 employees initially.
This new phase of the overhaul expands those efforts. According to sources, the NSC is shedding both career and political staff, reducing the council to a leaner operation with fewer voices — especially those seen as resistant to or skeptical of the president’s agenda.
The Rise of Marco Rubio in National Security
The reorganization follows the recent replacement of former national security adviser Mike Waltz, who was nominated to serve as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. In his place, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken over dual responsibilities, effectively becoming Trump’s chief foreign policy and national security adviser.
Rubio’s consolidation of power — serving as both Secretary of State and national security adviser — marks a significant shift in how the administration conducts diplomacy and strategic defense planning. Sources say Rubio has already begun reworking the NSC’s operational structure and is directly involved in determining which staffers remain.
Pressure From Trump’s Inner Circle and Right-Wing Activists
The internal shakeup comes on the heels of escalating pressure from Trump’s base and far-right activists, who have repeatedly questioned the ideological loyalty of the NSC. Weeks before Waltz’s removal, conservative influencer Laura Loomer reportedly raised concerns with Trump about disloyalty within the Council.
Shortly after, Trump publicly announced he had fired several NSC officials, a move many observers saw as directly tied to Loomer’s intervention. The current overhaul appears to be a continuation of that process — a purging of figures viewed as misaligned or resistant to Trump’s second-term objectives.
“This administration is going to clean house in every agency,” Loomer wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The NSC is just the beginning.”
NSC in a State of Perpetual Flux
Since the start of Trump’s return to office, the NSC has struggled with continuity, facing ongoing personnel churn, leadership transitions, and policy clashes. Waltz’s tenure, though brief, was marked by tension with other departments and internal factions. His abrupt replacement with Rubio now signals a more centralized, top-down approach to national security policy.
The White House has confirmed that an NSC overhaul is underway, but declined to offer specifics.
“We can confirm changes are being made,” said a White House official who requested anonymity. “But we won’t comment further on internal personnel matters.”
Implications and Concerns
Critics of the restructuring argue that shrinking the NSC and purging dissenting voices may undermine the integrity of national security policy, which traditionally benefits from interagency cooperation and a diversity of expertise.
Supporters of the move, however, argue that Trump is restoring efficiency and ensuring that those in advisory roles reflect his America First doctrine and aren’t subverting it from within.
As Rubio steps into a powerful dual role and the NSC contracts to a more ideologically aligned inner circle, the administration appears poised to pursue a more unilateral and streamlined security strategy — one critics warn could isolate key institutional voices and introduce blind spots in global risk assessments.
NSC Restructure Sends
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