Trump Administration Probes NSC Staff for Political Loyalty

Incoming officials are questioning career civil servants about their political views, prompting concerns over expertise loss and institutional knowledge gaps.

Trump's incoming administration is conducting loyalty tests for National Security Council (NSC) staff, asking about their voting records, political donations, and social media activity.
Nonpolitical NSC employees, initially told they could remain under the new administration, are now facing pressure to resign or return to their home agencies.
Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, has publicly stated his intention to replace career intelligence officials with personnel fully aligned with Trump’s agenda.
Critics, including outgoing national security adviser Jake Sullivan, warn that removing experienced NSC staff could harm U.S. foreign policy capabilities during ongoing crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.
This approach follows past tensions between Trump and career officials, raising concerns about self-censorship and a chilling effect on government service.