President Donald Trump’s national security adviser has directed approximately 160 National Security Council staffers to work from home as the administration conducts a review of staffing to align with Trump’s agenda, according to Trump administration officials. These career government employees, known as detailees, were informed during an all-staff meeting that they should be available to senior directors of the NSC but are not required to report to the White House. The NSC, a key White House entity, offers national security and foreign policy counsel to the president.
Before Inauguration Day, Trump's national security adviser indicated a plan to reassign holdover civil servants who served during President Joe Biden's administration back to their respective agencies. The objective is to ensure that the council is staffed by individuals who support Trump's agenda. The review aims to create a more efficient and streamlined NSC structure.
The administration has already started bringing in detailees from agencies with expertise valued by the new administration, including some who served during Trump's first term. Certain directors have decided to send back detailees to their home agencies. For instance, multiple holdover detailees assigned to the counterterrorism directorate were recently informed that their assignments were ending and they would return to their original agencies.
The affected NSC staff members are primarily subject matter experts on temporary duty from federal agencies like the State Department, FBI, and CIA. Incoming senior Trump administration officials have reportedly inquired about the political affiliations and social media activities of career civil servants assigned to the NSC.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz emphasized the need for NSC personnel to be aligned with President Trump’s agenda. However, a complete removal of foreign policy and national security experts from the NSC at the start of the new administration could result in a loss of expertise and institutional knowledge during critical policy challenges.
The NSC, established during the Truman administration, advises the president on national security and foreign policy matters and coordinates across government agencies. It is customary for experts detailed to the NSC to continue from one administration to the next, regardless of party changes.
During Trump's first term, two career military officers detailed to the NSC raised concerns about Trump's call to the Ukrainian President in 2019, leading to Trump's first impeachment. The whistleblowers, Alexander and Eugene Vindman, reported their concerns to superiors.
