National Security Adviser Mike Walz has ordered a “complete review” of the National Security Council's (NSC) staffing, beginning the process of eliminating agency staffers who do not align with President Trump's policies. did.
An NSC spokesperson said the staff review and evaluation began at 12:01pm on Monday.
“Mr. Walz will ensure that NSC staff is committed to carrying out President Trump's America First policy to protect national security and ensure wise use of America's working men and women's tax dollars,” Press Secretary Brian Hughes said in a statement. That's completely appropriate.”
Some users have already terminated the service. Others will be removed, but new ones will be installed.
Associated Pressfirst reportedWalz's team has told about 160 NSC employees to work from home while the personnel review takes place. The move effectively sidelined these officials while President Trump prepared his team.
The NSC has dozens of staff members who are familiar with various government agencies in each administration. These officials work for the FBI, State Department, CIA, Department of Energy, and others.
Some Trump supporters had expressed concern that Walz would not clean house for Biden administration officials after taking office. Waltz sought to dispel those fears.social media postsand an interview with Breitbart News earlier this month.
“I'm number one in terms of appearances on news that swings in support of the president,'' Walz said.He told Breitbart.. “If anyone thinks I'm somehow going to create a platoon full of Never Trumpers now, they're full of them. That's ridiculous.”
Walz's predecessor, Jake Sullivan, said in a Jan. 13 press conference that the national security staff, detailed across the government, “have served both Democratic and Republican administrations without fear or favor.” He said he was a “patriot.''
But Mr. Trump has long railed against the so-called “deep state,” and he and some allies are said to be working within the government to oppose or thwart his policies. It is claimed that there is.
Those concerns were further fueled by an anonymous op-ed published in the New York Times in 2018 by a staffer about officials trying to thwart President Trump's policies. The official was later identified as Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official.
In 2019, then-National Security Council official Alexander Vindman testified as a whistleblower about President Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which was the basis for Trump's first impeachment.
