Trump Cuts National Security Council Staff by Half

President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial overhaul of the National Security Council (NSC), cutting its staff by about half and returning many career officials to their original agencies. This restructuring aims to reduce bureaucracy and duplication, shifting the NSC's role from a powerful policymaking body toward a smaller organization focused on implementing the president's agenda. The cuts were abrupt, with some staff given only 30 minutes' notice to leave, and targeted many who did not align with the administration's priorities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who now also serves as national security adviser, is overseeing the reorganization, which involves collapsing or eliminating several regional and issue-based teams. The NSC's size will shrink from over 300 under previous administrations to approximately 50 staffers, granting more authority to the State and Defense Departments and other agencies. This move reflects the administration's intent to counter what it perceives as a "Deep State" influence within the national security apparatus.