President Trump’s dismissal of top NSA officials after meeting with activist Laura Loomer has ignited fresh controversy over loyalty tests, national security, and political influence inside the West Wing.
AT A GLANCE
- Trump fired NSA Director Gen. Timothy Haugh and Deputy Wendy Noble after meeting with activist Laura Loomer
- Six National Security Council staffers were also dismissed
- Loomer presented allegations of disloyalty tied to officials connected to Gen. Mark Milley
- Trump acknowledged Loomer’s influence but insisted firings were his own decision
- Lt. Gen. William J. Hartman named interim NSA Director
Trump Axes NSA Leadership Following Loomer Meeting
In a dramatic reshuffling of top national security personnel, President Donald Trump removed NSA Director General Timothy Haugh and his Deputy, Wendy Noble, amid rising concerns about internal opposition within federal agencies. The firings occurred just days after conservative firebrand Laura Loomer met with Trump and delivered a dossier alleging disloyalty among several senior staffers.
According to The Guardian, Loomer’s briefing targeted individuals she claimed were aligned with former Joint Chiefs Chair Mark Milley and critical of Trump’s leadership. Six additional staffers from the National Security Council were dismissed, four in one night and two over the weekend.
Watch coverage of the NSA firings.
Loomer’s Rise: From Activist to National Security Adviser?
Loomer’s growing influence in Trump’s orbit has stirred debate, particularly as she lacks formal national security credentials or a White House press pass. Nonetheless, she has taken credit for identifying “neocon” holdovers undermining the administration’s foreign policy shift.
Among those let go were NSC staffers Brian Walsh, Thomas Boodry, and Maggie Dougherty. Loomer also singled out Alex Wong, accusing him of being part of a scheme “to embarrass the Trump administration on behalf of China”—a claim that remains unsubstantiated by any independent investigation.
Critics, including former intelligence officials, have questioned the prudence of relying on activists for personnel decisions. However, supporters view it as part of Trump’s broader campaign to uproot entrenched interests and ensure alignment with his America First agenda.
Trump: “I Make the Decisions”
Responding to reports that Loomer orchestrated the firings, Trump defended the moves while downplaying her sole influence. “We’re always going to let go of people — people we don’t like or people that may have loyalties to someone else,” he said, adding, “She makes recommendations… And sometimes I listen to those recommendations… I listen to everybody and then I make a decision,” as reported by PJ Media.
The President’s allies argue that the removals reflect hard-earned lessons from his first term, when leaks and dissent from within the security apparatus often undercut his policy agenda. Trump’s base, long skeptical of Washington insiders, has largely welcomed the firings as a course correction.
Critics Warn of National Security Fallout
The reaction from Trump’s opponents has been swift and scathing. Democratic lawmakers and national security analysts warned that the removal of top intelligence officials, particularly General Haugh, risks undermining the continuity of critical national security operations. The New York Times quoted officials raising alarms over disruptions to “national security missions” during an already volatile global period.
Lt. Gen. William J. Hartman, previously with U.S. Cyber Command, has been tapped as acting NSA Director. Whether he will be confirmed permanently remains unclear, as does the status of National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who was seen with Trump but has not commented publicly.
The episode raises fresh concerns about the politicization of national security positions and the growing sway of political loyalists over intelligence functions. But in Trump’s view, the firings are a necessary step toward ensuring loyalty and cohesion in an administration where dissent is no longer tolerated.
