MAGA Loyalty Purge Strikes National Security Council

Person handing a paper with Youre Fired text.

President Trump fires multiple National Security Council staffers after a controversial meeting with conservative activist Laura Loomer, sparking debate over loyalty-based personnel decisions in national security roles.

Key Insights

At least three National Security Council officials were dismissed, with reports suggesting as many as ten staffers may have been affected in the recent purge.
Laura Loomer presented Trump with research on staffers she deemed insufficiently loyal to the MAGA agenda, though Trump maintains the firings were routine personnel changes.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has already returned approximately 160 non-political detailees to their home agencies, raising concerns about expertise gaps during complex foreign policy challenges.
The dismissals come amid controversy over NSC officials’ use of the Signal app for planning sensitive military operations, which is currently under review by the Pentagon’s acting inspector general.
NSA and US Cyber Command head General Timothy Haugh was also reportedly dismissed, prompting national security concerns from Democratic lawmakers.

White House Staffing Overhaul

President Donald Trump has dismissed several members of his National Security Council following a meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer. The firings included Brian Walsh, Thomas Boodry, and David Feith, with some reports indicating that as many as ten staffers may have been affected. Trump characterized these dismissals as standard personnel changes, stating, “We’re always going to let go of people – people we don’t like or people that take advantage of or people that may have loyalties to someone else.”

The staffing changes occurred after Loomer visited the Oval Office and presented Trump with research on staffers she believed were not sufficiently committed to his “Make America Great Again” agenda. Key figures present during this meeting included Vice President JD Vance, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Presidential Personnel Office Director Sergio Gor. Though Loomer’s role in the firings has been widely reported, Trump has denied that her input directly influenced his decisions.

Concerns About Loyalty and Leaks

Loomer has publicly expressed concerns about what she describes as “neocons” bypassing the administration’s vetting process. She has been particularly vocal about confidentiality issues within the White House, stating, “I woke up this morning to learn that there are still people in and around the West Wing who are LEAKING to the hostile, left-wing media about President Trump’s confidential and private meetings in the Oval Office. I want to reiterate how important it is that people who gain access to the White House or the administration respect the privacy of their conversations with President Trump and his senior staff.”

Trump has publicly referred to Loomer as a “great patriot” and acknowledged considering her recommendations. Though Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong has not yet been dismissed, Loomer has criticized him, suggesting his position may still be in jeopardy. Additionally, Adam Schleifer, an assistant US attorney, was reportedly fired shortly after Loomer posted about him on social media, further demonstrating her apparent influence.

Broader National Security Implications

The dismissals extend beyond the immediate NSC staff. The White House has also reportedly dismissed General Timothy Haugh, head of the NSA and US Cyber Command, as part of this broader restructuring of security officials. This move has prompted Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) and other Democrats to express alarm, praising Haugh as an honest leader and questioning the national security implications of his removal.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has already sent approximately 160 non-political detailees back to their home agencies in an effort to ensure commitment to Trump’s agenda. Critics argue this process has sidelined non-political experts on various critical topics during complex foreign policy challenges.

Signal Controversy and Ongoing Investigation

The firings come amid heightened scrutiny over communication practices within the administration. Waltz’s use of the Signal app for planning a sensitive military operation was inadvertently exposed when journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a message chain. This incident has prompted an investigation by the Pentagon’s acting inspector general, who is reviewing the use of Signal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials for potential security protocol violations.

This staffing overhaul represents one of the most significant restructurings of national security personnel in the administration thus far. With high-profile dismissals continuing, the long-term impacts on policy implementation and national security coordination remain to be seen as the administration works to align its security apparatus with its strategic priorities.