White House NSC Staff Mass Dismissals Spark National Security Concerns
Scores of White House National Security Council (NSC) staffers, including career officials and political appointees, were dismissed Friday under new National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. This downsizing, delivered via email on a Friday afternoon, reflects an administration effort to reduce the NSC’s size, mirroring models advocated by former advisors like Brent Scowcroft. Two new deputy advisors, Andy Baker and Robert Gabriel, have been appointed. The cuts, while intended to streamline operations, have raised concerns among former officials about the impact on the NSC’s ability to effectively advise the President on complex national security issues.
John Q. Hosedrinker