The Voice News:President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have initiated a major overhaul of the National Security Council (NSC), significantly downsizing its staff and transferring key responsibilities to the State and Defense Departments. A Report has been published in www.axios.com on this regard.
Why It Matters:
The reorganization reflects Trump’s long-standing belief that the NSC is overly bureaucratic and resistant to his agenda. According to a White House official involved in the effort, this move is part of an ongoing campaign to dismantle what they describe as the “Deep State” entrenched within federal agencies.
“The NSC is the ultimate Deep State,” said the official. “We’re gutting it.”
The number of NSC staff will be cut in half, from approximately 350. Those reassigned will take positions in other government agencies. Rubio emphasized that this shift aligns with the NSC’s original intent and will enhance collaboration among departments.
Details of the Overhaul:
White House officials criticized the NSC’s internal structure for its slow, cumbersome decision-making process. Layers of advisory bodies—such as the sub-PCC (sub-Policy Coordination Committee), PCC, DC (Deputies Committee), and PC (Principals Committee)—have been seen as inefficient.
“This bottom-up approach doesn’t work,” one senior official said. “That’s what’s going away.”
Under the new structure, the NSC will primarily focus on coordination and advising, rather than executing policy.
Support and Criticism:
Proponents of the traditional NSC framework argue it fosters thorough debate and interagency cooperation. However, Trump officials claim this model is unnecessary under their administration, where cabinet officials reportedly share a unified vision.
“There’s no infighting here,” a senior official noted. “Everyone—Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Attorney General Pam Bondi—knows their job is to carry out the president’s orders.”
They highlighted a recent example: after Trump called for lifting sanctions on Syria, the relevant departments quickly complied without running the proposal through traditional NSC channels.
“It was reverse workflow,” an official explained. “The president gave a directive, and everyone acted.”
Leadership Changes:
Rubio will continue serving as acting national security adviser while maintaining his role as Secretary of State. Trump reportedly wants him to stay in the position “as long as possible.”
Two deputies, Andy Baker and Robert Gabriel, will support Rubio. Baker, who currently advises Vice President Vance on national security, will retain that role alongside his new duties. Gabriel, an assistant to the president for policy, will also take on added responsibilities.
Background:
Rubio stepped in as acting national security adviser earlier this month after Mike Waltz resigned to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Rubio, already known for cutting USAID and streamlining the State Department, has long expressed skepticism about career bureaucrats.
Back in 2017, Rubio warned Trump that entrenched staff would resist his Cuba policy unless directives came from the top.
“What you want on Cuba will never come from the career staff,” Rubio said then. “You’ll have to tell them what to do.”