The Trump administration placed more than 100 National Security Council (NSC) staffers on administrative leave Friday, according to a report from CNN.
The restructuring follows recent changes in leadership at the NSC and reflects President Trump’s renewed focus on consolidating decision-making at the highest levels of government. The changes are part of an effort to reduce bureaucracy and return control of foreign policy strategy to top executive officials.
Most of the affected staffers were career employees temporarily assigned to the NSC from other government departments. They were given short notice to vacate their offices, with an email sent by NSC chief of staff Brian McCormack at approximately 4:20 p.m. instructing them to clear out within 30 minutes.
Those not on site were given instructions to coordinate the return of their devices and collect personal belongings at a later time.
The subject line of the email reportedly read “Your return to home agency,” signaling that these individuals would now be returning to their original government posts. According to CNN, the move impacts more than 100 individuals.
This restructuring comes on the heels of the removal of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong earlier this month. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stepped in to serve as acting National Security Advisor, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to decisive leadership and a centralized foreign policy strategy.
The reorganization also follows a recent incident in which Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic and a known Trump critic, was reportedly added—apparently by mistake—to a secure Signal group chat involving high-level discussions about military operations against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.
A leaked screenshot showed Goldberg’s inclusion in the “Houthi PC small group,” sparking concern over information security and discipline within the NSC structure.
While critics may view the staff shake-up as disruptive, supporters argue it’s a necessary measure to tighten security protocols, reduce bureaucratic bloat, and ensure loyalty and discretion within one of the most sensitive arms of the executive branch.
President Trump has made it clear that his administration will not tolerate leaks, inefficiency, or insubordination within agencies tasked with safeguarding the nation’s interests. The NSC overhaul is expected to continue in the days ahead as the White House sharpens its foreign policy focus in response to increasing global threats.
More developments are expected soon.