President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to reevaluate the National Security Council’s operations, aiming to delegate its critical roles to other areas, particularly the State Department and the Defense sector.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to reduce the size of federal agencies. It comes in light of Trump’s recent announcement about former national security adviser Mike Waltz’s exit from his White House role. Interestingly, on the same day, Trump mentioned Waltz would take on a new position as the UN ambassador.
Plans to streamline the National Security Council include moving key personnel like Andy Barker, the national security advisor to Vice President JD Vance, and Robert Gabriel, who advises the president on policy, into the position of deputy national security advisor. Axios was among the first sources to break this news, which has since been confirmed by White House officials to Fox News Digital.
The drive for change is reportedly fueled by a desire to challenge what some in the administration call Washington’s “deep state.” A White House official aptly noted, “The NSC is the ultimate deep state. It’s Marco vs. Deep State. We are hindering deep state.”
The National Security Council, located within the White House, plays a pivotal role in advising the president on issues related to national security, military strategies, and foreign affairs. Recently, Waltz’s departure followed his involvement in a controversial signaling chat tied to a military strike plan against the Hoosis.
In the wake of Waltz’s exit, Rubio has taken up the mantle of national security advisor while continuing his duties at the State Department. This restructuring is accompanied by plans to dissolve other agencies, including the US International Development Agency.
According to reports from Fox News Digital, the State Department intends to absorb functions from USAID, which will necessitate significant staff reductions in order to improve the efficiency and delivery of essential foreign aid programs.
