In a significant staffing shift, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has decided to temporarily sideline approximately 160 career government employees currently on detail at the White House's National Security Council (NSC). These employees, referred to as detailees, have been instructed to work from home while the administration undertakes a comprehensive review of staffing within the NSC, which is responsible for providing national security and foreign policy advice directly to the president.
The directive came after a scheduled all-staff meeting held on Wednesday, where the detailees were informed that, although they would need to remain available to senior directors within the NSC, they would no longer be required to report to the White House physically. This change comes amid a broader strategy by Waltz to reshape the NSC's composition and ensure alignment with Trump's agenda, as indicated prior to Inauguration Day.
Waltz has expressed a desire to realign the NSC by moving out holdover civil servants who were part of the council during President Joe Biden's administration. The intention is to create an environment staffed by individuals who are more closely aligned with Trump’s policies and viewpoints. By the end of the review, the aim is to establish a "more efficient, flatter" NSC that is better suited to the current administration's priorities.
As part of this process, officials have started integrating detailees from various federal agencies who possess expertise valued by the new administration. This includes some individuals who had previously served during Trump’s first term, indicating a preference for continuity among trusted personnel. Furthermore, several directors within the NSC have proactively communicated with detailees about returning them to their original federal agencies. This has already taken place for some members assigned to the counterterrorism directorate, who were informed that their assignments would be shortened and they would be reassigned back to their home agencies.
This move signals a significant shift in the operational dynamics of the NSC under the current administration. As the White House navigates the challenges of national security and foreign affairs, the realignment of the council's staff underscores a determination to govern with a team that reflects Trump's objectives and policy priorities. The review is part of a concerted effort to streamline operations within the NSC, aiming to create a more adaptive and responsive body equipped to handle the complexities of national and global issues.
