• President Trump is significantly downsizing the National Security Council's staff.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken over as national security adviser.
• The restructuring aims to align the NSC more closely with Trump's agenda.
• More than 100 officials are being placed on administrative leave, interpreted as part of a 'liquidation' of the NSC personnel.
• The NSC is shifting authority back to the State Department and Pentagon.

In a significant political shakeup, President Donald Trump has ordered a major overhaul of the National Security Council (NSC), reducing its size and returning many officials to their original agencies. This restructuring comes weeks after the appointment of Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the new national security adviser, replacing Mike Waltz, who had conservative ties and was seen as less aligned with Trump’s agenda, according to Reuters, CBS News, and New York Times.

The NSC's staff is expected to be slashed by more than half, creating a streamlined advisory structure that aligns with Trump's 'America First' foreign policy approach. Reports indicate that over 100 staff members were placed on administrative leave, reflecting a drastic personnel shakeup described as a "liquidation" of positions, as many who are let go will have the option to return to their original agencies, according to India Times and LA Times.

The reshaping of the NSC is expected to enhance the influence of the State Department and Pentagon in advising Trump on critical foreign policy matters. This follows earlier frustrations articulated by Trump regarding prior advisers who he believed impeded his foreign policy goals. The NSC, created to consolidate national security policy coordination, has been undergoing tumultuous changes since the onset of Trump's second term, with an increase in scrutiny of staff loyalty and ideological alignment within the council, according to TRT Global and New York Times.

Traditionally, the NSC has played a crucial role in overseeing national security strategy; however, the latest moves mark a shift towards a more centralized decision-making process as viewed by Trump and his loyalists. The ongoing changes further illustrate the evolving landscape of U.S. foreign policy under Trump's leadership, demonstrating a clear move towards consolidating power within the administration's core, according to Reuters and LA Times.