Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has embarked on making lots of changes, from staff cuts spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to controversial tariff plans. His latest moves have been targeted toward what his administration considers the “Deep State” in Washington D.C.
According to a Friday report from Axios, Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “have orchestrated a vast restructuring of the National Security Council,” as part of that plan to target the “Deep State.”
Per the archived site of former President George W. Bush’s White House, the National Security Act of July 26, 1947, created the council. Under the chairmanship of the president, it included the heads of the State Department and the Defense Department as well as other key members to “coordinate foreign policy and defense policy and to reconcile diplomatic and military commitments and requirements.”
Over the following decades, different presidents have tailored the way the NSC functions for their own administrations. In the case of Trump and Rubio, Axios said that they plan to reduce the council’s size and transfer many of its powers to the State and Defense departments.
Why is the administration making these changes? The outlet explained that “Trump’s White House sees the NSC as notoriously bureaucratic and filled with longtime officials who don’t share the president’s vision.”
One official cited by Axios said the administration sees the NSC as the “ultimate Deep State,” and that Rubio wants to gut it, reducing its staff to 350 members. Officials said that the people cut will be moved to other government positions and the council will not carry out policy.
Rubio is expected to stay on as national security advisor. He took on the role last month following Mike Waltz – who made headlines for the Signal app scandal – departing then being nominated to be UN ambassador by Trump. Andy Baker, national security adviser to Vice President JD Vance, and Robert Gabriel, assistant to the president for policy, will serve as deputy NSC advisors.
Axios also explained that the current iteration of the NSC has a structure filled with committees that the Trump administration believes slow down decision making. On the other hand, supporters believe the structure promotes debate and discussion.
“The right-sizing of the NSC is in line with its original purpose and the president’s vision,” Rubio told Axios in a statement provided to the outlet. “The NSC will now be better positioned to collaborate with agencies.”