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President Donald Trump has ordered a sweeping reorganization of the National Security Council (NSC), slashing its size and pushing out both career detailees and political appointees in a dramatic effort to reshape the institution around his “America First” foreign policy agenda.
The restructuring, confirmed by three people familiar with the plan, comes just weeks after Trump fired National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and replaced him with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is temporarily holding dual roles.
“This is a liquidation of the NSC as we know it,” said a person familiar with the internal deliberations.
Who’s Out?
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The NSC, which previously had around 395 employees, will lose a significant portion of its staff.
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90 to 95 detailees — career experts from other agencies — will be sent back to their home departments.
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Several political appointees are also being removed, with some reassigned to other administration roles.
Return to State & Defense Leadership
The changes are expected to elevate the roles of the State Department and Pentagon in shaping foreign policy, though insiders note Trump primarily relies on his own instincts. The NSC will now focus more narrowly on executing Trump’s agenda than providing broad policy debate or interagency coordination.
Fallout From Waltz’s Exit
Waltz, a former Green Beret and three-term congressman, was viewed with suspicion by Trump allies who felt he was too aligned with Washington’s foreign policy establishment. His removal followed criticism from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who flagged concerns about staff loyalty and the presence of “neocons” in NSC ranks.
Waltz’s downfall accelerated after a controversial incident involving journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who was mistakenly added to an encrypted planning group for a sensitive operation in Yemen.
Trump’s Foreign Policy Pivot
The reshaping of the NSC comes amid a broader repositioning of Trump’s second-term foreign policy priorities, including:
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Greater skepticism of military aid to Ukraine
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A more restrained military posture toward China and Iran
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Diplomatic pragmatism over traditional alliances
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A tilt away from “neoconservative” hawkishness in favor of nationalist realism
Loomer’s MAGA Influence
Trump’s staffing decisions have increasingly reflected the influence of hardline MAGA figures, with Loomer reportedly playing a direct role in the firing of multiple NSC aides. Her campaign against Waltz underscored tensions within Trump’s orbit between ideological loyalists and foreign policy veterans.
What’s Next for the NSC?
The overhaul — first reported by Axios and confirmed by White House sources — may transform the NSC from a deliberative policy body into a leaner, more ideologically aligned executive unit. Critics argue it undermines the NSC’s historical role as a buffer between politics and national security strategy.
A White House official acknowledged the reorganization was underway but declined to offer further comment.
