On Friday, the administration of US President Donald Trump began a widespread operation to restructure the National Security Council, which included reducing the size of the council responsible for coordinating and implementing foreign policy in the White House.
5 sources told “Reuters” that the employees who deal with a group of major geopolitical issues received notifications in dismissal, on Friday, while CNN reported that more than 100 employees of the National Security Council were granted an administrative leave, and they were given less than two hours to evacuate their offices.
The National Security Council, which operates from inside the White House, is the central authority to coordinate policies between government agencies, to help the president make decisions related to foreign policy and national security. The number of employees ranges between dozens and hundreds, according to different presidents.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also takes the role of the National Security Adviser, is to implement major changes in the structure of the National Security Council.
The move comes weeks after Foreign Minister Marco Rubio assumed the position of National Security Adviser to succeed Mike Walz.
This restructuring process is expected to give more powers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and other government agencies, according to the sources.
The change aims to reduce the size of the National Security Council to be limited to only dozens of employees. Two sources told “Reuters” that the employees who will be dispensed with the National Security Council will be transferred to other jobs within the government.
One of the officials described the timing of this step, which came, on Friday, as “uncomfortable and reckless.”
Sources told CNN that the council employees had undergone a personal interview by the Presidential Personnel Office in recent weeks, with the progress of the process of reshaping the office.
Trump balances his options to appoint a new national security adviser in the wake of the overthrow of Mike Walz. To talk again about the role of the National Security Council in decision -making and its influence.
One of the sources stated, “Among the questions that were asked during the interviews: What is the appropriate size in their opinion of the National Security Council.”
The role of the National Security Council, which usually consists of foreign policy experts from various American government agencies, is significantly decreased during the Trump era, and it is expected that the restructuring process will deepen this decline.
The move comes after Trump sacked a number of national security council officials last April, after meeting with the right -wing extremist activist Laura Loomer, who expressed concern about the existence of those who described them as “non -loyal” within the administration.
Rubio is expected to continue his duties as a national security consultant for a period of not less than 6 months, according to Trump’s statements, while a permanent alternative to this position may be announced by the end of the summer.
-
-
-
-
