logo
National Security Council Will Be Cut by Half

National Security Council Will Be Cut by Half

New York Times23-05-2025
Marco Rubio, the secretary of state who is also serving as the national security adviser, on Friday revealed a significant restructuring of the National Security Council, reducing the size by at least half, according to a person with knowledge of the move.
The dramatic changes involve a combination of officials from other agencies returning to their original offices, as well as others being placed on administrative leave, effective immediately, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly. Some of the teams on the N.S.C. that focus on specific regions or issues will be gutted, while others will be collapsed and folded into others. Still other teams will cease to exist.
Andy Baker, Vice President JD Vance's national security adviser, will serve as the deputy for the reconfigured N.S.C., alongside Robert Gabriel, whose current title is assistant to the president for policy.
The changes were reported earlier by Axios.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The dramatic downsizing comports with President Trump's view of how foreign policy debates should be conducted: from the top down, with advisers taking the president's desired outcomes and finding a way to comply with them. Past presidents have used the N.S.C. in different ways, but generally it has served as a coordinating body across departments for key policy discussions and decisions.
The N.S.C. has a core staff of presidential appointees supported by dozens of specialists who are detailed — or essentially on loan — from other departments and agencies across the government.
Mr. Trump also has held a deep distrust for and suspicion of the N.S.C. since the earliest days of his first term, in 2017. People who have worked for him over time say he believes it was the source of significant undermining of his policy views.
Mr. Trump's first of two impeachments involved testimony before Congress from Alexander Vindman, the director of European Affairs at the N.S.C., about the president pressing the then newly elected Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, for an investigation into Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his family. At the time, Mr. Biden was one of Mr. Trump's chief potential rivals in the 2020 election.
In early April, Mr. Trump fired several N.S.C. aides after a meeting with the far-right activist Laura Loomer, who presented him with a list of people she suspected of disloyalty.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Enjoy Your Summer Holiday, Prime Minister. It Won't Last Long.
Enjoy Your Summer Holiday, Prime Minister. It Won't Last Long.

Bloomberg

time6 hours ago

  • Bloomberg

Enjoy Your Summer Holiday, Prime Minister. It Won't Last Long.

The UK is the place to be for MAGA bigwigs this summer. President Donald Trump arrives in Scotland later this week to check out his golf courses at Turnberry, Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire. His Veep JD Vance is due across the pond next month, when he'll vacation in London, Scotland and Oxfordshire. This is no doubt to the chagrin of Ellen DeGeneres, who has confirmed she moved to the UK specifically to get away from the Trump administration and now lives in the Cotswolds, an area of rolling hills described (on its own website) as possessing 'quintessentially English towns and villages of honey-colored stone,' and where the Vance family has rented a property. The prospect of her running into the Vances in a picturesque ye olde tea room or on the lawns of a stately home is now a clear and present danger.

Rubio slams Macron's plan to recognize Palestinian state
Rubio slams Macron's plan to recognize Palestinian state

The Hill

time7 hours ago

  • The Hill

Rubio slams Macron's plan to recognize Palestinian state

Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed Emmanuel Macron after the French president said on Thursday that France would recognize Palestinian statehood, arguing it will only assist Hamas and downgrade prospects of reaching a peace deal between the Palestinian militant group and Israel. 'The United States strongly rejects @EmmanuelMacron's plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the @UN general assembly,' Rubio said in a Thursday evening statement on X. 'This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace. It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th.' Macron said the decision is part of a commitment to a 'just and lasting peace' in the Middle East and that he will make the announcement before the United Nations General Assembly in September. 'The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is our responsibility — as French citizens, alongside Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partners — to prove that peace is possible,' Macron said. So far, 146 countries have recognized the Palestinian state. France became the first member of the Group of Seven (G7) to do so. Macron's announcement came the same day as the discussion between Israel and Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government, about forging a ceasefire and releasing the hostages fell apart. Steve Witkoff, President Trump's Middle East envoy, hammered Hamas, saying the group lacks the 'desire' to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza,' Witkoff said in a statement. 'It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza.' On Thursday, as part of the announcement, Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in the war-torn enclave, for all of the hostages held by Hamas to be freed and for the aid flowing into Gaza to increase. Israel has pushed against the international recognition of the Palestinian state, especially at the UN. Marcon, who said he got unnamed commitments from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that made the announcement possible, was also criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,' Netanyahu said Thursday on X. 'A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it. Let's be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel.'

US Student Visas Now Require Enhanced Social Media Screening—Here's What to Know
US Student Visas Now Require Enhanced Social Media Screening—Here's What to Know

Condé Nast Traveler

time13 hours ago

  • Condé Nast Traveler

US Student Visas Now Require Enhanced Social Media Screening—Here's What to Know

International students hoping to study in the United States are facing a new and unprecedented level of scrutiny: Their online presence is now subject to review by consular officers as part of a sweeping overhaul of the US student visa screening process. As of June 18, 2025, the US State Department has implemented new rules requiring applicants for student (F and M) and exchange visitor (J) visas to submit their social media handles and make their profiles public during the visa review process. Consular officers have been directed to conduct in-depth reviews of applicants' online presence (particularly for individuals from countries deemed high risk by the state department), to identify applicants who the administration deems as inadmissible to the US. 'Students need to understand that their digital footprint could become part of their permanent US immigration record,' says Loren Locke, an immigration attorney at Locke Immigration Law, who previously adjudicated thousands of visa applications as a State Department consular officer. 'This means years of posts, comments, and friendships could be scrutinized.' Perhaps the most dramatic development is what's happening at Harvard. As of late May, anyone seeking a US visa for any purpose tied to Harvard—students, staff, researchers, or even tourists attending campus events—are being flagged for 'enhanced vetting.' The move, framed by the State Department as a national security measure, is part of a pilot program that could expand to other institutions. And on July 23, the State Department announced an investigation into Harvard's eligibility to sponsor international students and researchers. Without that authority, granted by the government, Harvard would not be able to enroll new international students or host researchers and visiting professors from abroad. Below, we break down everything you need know about applying for US student and exchange visas right now, according to immigration lawyers and experts. Who does this affect? The policy applies globally to all noncitizens applying for US student and exchange visas. Still, Harvard University became the first school to face enhanced scrutiny under a pilot program launched in late May. According to internal memos obtained by numerous media outlets, anyone applying for a visa connected to Harvard (which again includes students, scholars, visiting speakers, and campus event attendees) is now subject to a separate layer of national security review. The administration has justified the move by citing alleged failures by Harvard to curb antisemitism and threats to campus safety following pro-Palestinian protests. On July 23, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a formal investigation into Harvard's eligibility to sponsor international students and researchers, even as the university fights the policy in court. A federal judge previously granted Harvard a temporary restraining order to prevent visa denials based solely on political affiliation or social media content. Prepare for expanded screening and vetting The screening process extends far beyond consular officers casually scrolling through applicants' Instagram accounts. Under the new rules, applicants must now provide a complete list of their online identifiers (usernames or handles) across platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and others. Officers will also look for mentions of the applicants in news articles, published scholarly articles, or any other searchable content. According to a diplomatic cable sent by the State Department to embassies and consulates (and obtained by multiple outlets), consular officers are directed to comb applicants' online presence to look for 'any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.' It further instructs officers to look for any 'advocacy for, aid or support for foreign terrorists and other threats to US national security' and 'support for unlawful antisemitic harassment or violence,' while taking 'screenshots to preserve the record against possible later alteration or loss of the information.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store