Chicago – May 23, 2025
President Trump has ordered big cuts to the White House National Security Council (NSC), resulting in the dismissal of many policy experts on Friday, according to one of the workers let go. The staff members were told at 4:30 p.m. that they would need to leave by 5 p.m. The worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said the firings were sudden, and many staffers are talking to each other about what happened.
The changes are part of a plan to reduce unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and avoid repeating tasks. Some parts of the NSC will now move back to other government departments and agencies. For instance, in the Middle East division, the number of staff dropped from 10 to 5.
After the cuts, the NSC will return to roughly the same size it was at the end of Trump’s first term. The White House and National Security Council have not yet commented on the changes.
