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Trump Team Questions NSC Civil Servants on 2024 Election Loyalty, Waltz Plans Overhaul by Inauguration

Jan 13, 2025, 03:13 PM

Incoming senior officials of the Trump administration have begun questioning career civil servants at the White House National Security Council (NSC) about their political affiliations, including who they voted for in the 2024 election, their political contributions, and any social media posts that could be considered incriminating by the incoming team. This vetting process, which started last week, has led some nonpolitical employees to begin packing their belongings, despite earlier indications they would be retained in the new administration. Trump's designated national security adviser, Florida Representative Mike Waltz, has expressed intentions to replace all nonpolitical appointees and career intelligence officials at the NSC by Inauguration Day to align the council with Trump's agenda. This move could result in a loss of expertise and institutional knowledge at a critical time for U.S. foreign policy, particularly in dealing with challenges in Ukraine and the Middle East. Current NSC staff, who are typically detailed from agencies like the State Department, FBI, and CIA, face the possibility of being returned to their home agencies if they do not meet the new administration's criteria. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has advocated for retaining these career employees, emphasizing the importance of having a team ready to address global challenges immediately upon the new administration's start.