Washington, D.C., , May 24, 2025 – The Europe Today: The White House has initiated a major restructuring of the National Security Council (NSC), a move aimed at significantly reducing the size and influence of the historically powerful body, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The changes began on Friday, with NSC staff members responsible for a broad range of critical geopolitical issues — including Ukraine and Kashmir — receiving termination notices in the afternoon, according to five individuals who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the developments.
The restructuring follows the recent appointment of Secretary of State Marco Rubio as National Security Adviser, replacing Mike Waltz. The NSC declined to issue a public comment regarding the overhaul.
According to sources, the reorganization is part of President Donald Trump’s broader objective to reorient the NSC from a policy-shaping entity to a streamlined unit focused on implementing presidential directives. The changes are expected to shift greater authority to the State Department, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies tasked with handling diplomacy, national security, and intelligence matters.
Plans under discussion would see the NSC trimmed to approximately 50 personnel, a dramatic reduction from the more than 300 staff members it had under former President Joe Biden. Even prior to the latest round of terminations, Trump’s administration had already significantly reduced the council’s workforce.
Sources say that the restructuring will include the consolidation or dissolution of several NSC directorates, including those responsible for African affairs and multilateral organizations such as NATO. Remaining directorates are expected to operate with minimal staffing.
While some terminated staff are expected to be reassigned to other roles within the federal government, the cutbacks come at a time when the NSC has reportedly struggled to recruit top-tier talent. Key positions, such as the director for Latin American affairs, remain vacant or unfilled on a permanent basis.
The move also follows previous dismissals of senior staff earlier this year, reportedly after a list of perceived disloyal employees was presented to President Trump by right-wing activist Laura Loomer. In addition, morale within the NSC had been shaken by an incident in which former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently disclosed sensitive information about a planned military operation in Yemen to a journalist.
Conservative policymakers have long advocated for a reduced NSC, arguing that its functions often overlap with those of other government entities. The current overhaul appears to align with those long-standing views.
The National Security Council, established in 1947, has traditionally served as the principal forum for presidential decision-making on national security and foreign policy issues. It has played a pivotal role in crafting and coordinating the United States’ response to global crises and maintaining national security.
With the ongoing changes, the NSC’s future role is expected to be more narrowly defined, focusing less on broad strategic policy formulation and more on direct support for the president’s foreign policy objectives.
