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A2 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 23 January 2025
White House sidelines 160 National Security Council staffers,
aligning the team with Trump’s agenda
By ZEKE MILLER and AAMER Trump and Waltz would like
MADHANI to see as part of the NSC
Associated Press once the review is com-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- pleted.
dent Donald Trump’s na- Officials said that they
tional security adviser has have already begun bring-
sidelined about 160 Nation- ing detailees from agen-
al Security Council staffers, cies with expertise that the
telling them to work from new administration val-
home while the adminis- ues, including some who
tration reviews staffing and had served during the first
tries to align it with Trump’s Trump administration.
agenda, administration of- Some directors have al-
ficials told The Associated ready made decisions to
Press on Wednesday. inform detailees they will
The career government be sent back to the fed-
employees, commonly re- eral agencies they were
ferred to as detailees, were on loan from. For example,
summoned on Wednesday multiple holdover detailees
to an all-staff call in which assigned to counterterror-
they were told that they’ll ism directorate were told
be expected to be avail- Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., speaks during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee with on Tuesday that their as-
able to the NSC’s senior Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Capitol Hill, Feb. 29, 2024, in Washington. signment was being cut
directors but would not Associated Press short and that they will be
sent back to their home
need to report to the White agencies, according to
House. The NSC, a White two people familiar with
House arm, provides na- the move who were not
tional security and foreign not authorized to com-
policy advice to the presi- ment publicly.
dent. At least some holdover de-
Trump, a Republican, is tailees sent home Wednes-
sidelining these nonpo- day had their White House
litical subject matter ex- emails turned off soon after
perts on topics that range the all-staff call ended, but
from counterterrorism to they were told to remain
global climate policy at a reachable on their person-
time when the U.S. is grap- al cellphones.
pling with a disparate set “National Security Advi-
of complicated foreign sor Mike Waltz promised
policy matters, including and authorized a full re-
conflicts in Ukraine and the view of NSC personnel,”
Middle East. Such structur- White House National Se-
ing could make new policy curity Council spokesper-
experts brought in to the son Brian Hughes said in
NSC less likely to speak up a statement. “It is entirely
about policy differences appropriate for Mr. Waltz
and concerns. to ensure NSC personnel
Trump’s national security are committed to imple-
adviser, Mike Waltz, had menting President Trump’s
signaled before Inaugu- America First agenda to
ration Day that he would protect our national se-
look to move holdover civil curity and wisely use the
servants who worked in tax dollars of America’s
the NSC during President working men and women.
Joe Biden’s administration Since 12:01 pm on Monday
back to their home agen- personnel reviews and de-
cies. That’s meant to en- cisions based on the evalu-
sure the council is staffed ations are being made.”
by those who support The dozens of NSC staff
Trump’s agenda. members affected by the
By the end of the review, decision are largely sub-
Waltz will look to have a ject matter experts who
“more efficient, flatter” had been loaned to the
NSC, one official said. The White House by federal
officials declined to com- agencies such as the State
ment on the ultimate num- Department, the FBI and
ber of personnel nonpo- the CIA for temporary duty
litical detailees as well as that typically lasts one to
political appointees that
two years.q
