The White House recently dismissed several senior officials from the National Security Council (NSC) amidst growing internal disputes within President Donald Trump’s administration, according to multiple sources familiar with the developments.
The firings occurred shortly after President Trump met with Laura Loomer, a far-right activist known for advocating various conspiracy theories, who raised concerns about the loyalty of certain NSC officials.
Among those removed were Thomas Boodry, who managed legislative affairs at the NSC and had previously worked for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz during Waltz’s time in Congress; David Feith, responsible for technology and national security; and Brian Walsh, who focused on intelligence matters and had previously worked with Secretary of State Marco Rubio during Rubio’s Senate tenure.
The dismissals underscore ongoing tensions between Waltz’s team and the White House Presidential Personnel Office (PPO), led by Sergio Gor, a former spokesperson for Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The disagreements mainly revolve around potential administration hires that the PPO believes do not align with Trump’s foreign policy views.
When asked about the personnel changes, NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes stated, “NSC doesn’t comment on personnel matters.”
Reports indicate that the discord between Waltz’s team and the PPO dates back to the start of Trump’s transition period in November 2024. An individual familiar with NSC hiring decisions claimed that Gor has obstructed Waltz’s choices for key NSC positions, despite their alignment with both Waltz and the president’s assertive stance on countries like China and Iran.
“It’s astounding to me that Waltz has the trust of the president on national security issues but not the trust to staff his own team,” remarked an anonymous source familiar with internal White House dynamics.
Insiders within the White House have expressed concern that these dismissals could hinder Waltz’s ability to staff the NSC with seasoned national security professionals, potentially affecting Trump’s foreign policy goals.
A former Biden NSC official, speaking anonymously to avoid public commentary on Trump personnel issues, remarked, “All these jobs have a real learning curve and pushing a reset will set the Trump team back by months.”
The dismissals occur amid a controversy some have labeled “Signalgate,” involving NSC officials’ use of the encrypted messaging app Signal for discussions about U.S. military operations. The issue arose when it was discovered that a journalist had been accidentally added to an NSC Signal group chat discussing sensitive operations.
The New York Times reports that National Security Adviser Waltz, under pressure due to the Signal messaging issue, briefly attended Trump’s meeting with Loomer to defend his team.
The exact link between Loomer’s meeting with the president and the subsequent dismissals is not clear.
Loomer, known for spreading conspiracy theories, including those about the September 11 attacks, reportedly provided Trump with information on NSC staffers she deemed insufficiently loyal to his “Make America Great Again” agenda. Sources indicate Loomer compiled a list of about a dozen officials she believed should be dismissed.
While President Trump has denied Loomer directly influenced the firings, he has described her as a “great patriot” and acknowledged occasionally considering her recommendations on personnel matters.
In a post on X following news of her meeting with the president, Loomer confirmed the meeting and criticized leaks about it. She remarked that she was informed in the morning that “there are still people in and around the West Wing who are LEAKING to the hostile, left-wing media” regarding Trump’s private Oval Office meetings. She advocated for thorough vetting to protect the president and the country’s security.
The dismissals followed Senator Tom Cotton’s (R-Ark.) public defense of Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong, who faced accusations from Loomer and others of being a Chinese government agent undermining the Trump administration—allegations without evidence.
Senator Cotton, for whom Wong previously worked, stated on social media that Wong and his wife are “complete and total patriots, 100% MAGA Warriors who always put America First.” He added, “America is safer and better off with Alex in the White House.”
Wong was a primary focus for Loomer during her meeting with Trump but was not included in this round of dismissals.
The White House’s vetting process for administration officials has reportedly become more stringent during Trump’s current term, with the PPO screening candidates for any indications of disloyalty to the president’s agenda, including examining social media activity and inquiring about political affiliations.
The Pentagon’s acting inspector general has announced a review of Waltz’s and other defense officials’ use of Signal for discussing sensitive military operations, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing national security team issues.