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4mo ago

Trump Administration Finalizing Major National Security Council Overhaul

Marco Rubio, serving as interim National Security Adviser, is preparing to reduce NSC staff to 50–60 members and reassign responsibilities to other agencies after President Trump’s Middle East trip.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in the Oval Office at the White House on May 6 in Washington, DC.
National security adviser Mike Waltz looks at his phone as he prepares for a TV interview at the White House on May 1, in Washington, DC.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and then-national security adviser Mike Waltz speak with the media following meetings with a Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 11.

Overview

  • The National Security Council, previously reduced to 150 staffers in January, is expected to downsize further to 50–60 personnel under interim National Security Adviser Marco Rubio.
  • The restructuring aligns with President Trump’s preference for a centralized, top-down decision-making model, reducing the NSC’s traditional role in policy coordination.
  • Rubio plans to reassign staff to agencies like the State Department and CIA rather than terminate their positions, emphasizing interagency coordination for national security matters.
  • The overhaul follows the removal of Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser in April and is anticipated to take effect after Trump concludes his Middle East tour this week.
  • This move is part of a broader effort under the Trump administration to prioritize political loyalty and streamline federal operations, further diminishing the NSC’s institutional significance.