Trump Administration Conducts “Loyalty Checks” on National Security Council Staff
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated what has been described as “loyalty checks” for approximately 160 civil service employees within the National Security Council (NSC).
This scrutiny forms part of a broader campaign by Trump aimed at restructuring the federal workforce. The strategy includes hiring supporters and simplifying the process to dismiss employees perceived as disloyal.
Within the NSC, there are about 160 civil servants known as “temporary employees,” whose employment status is currently under review based on their “loyalty,” according to the news site Axios. An insider familiar with the situation told Axios on Wednesday that these reviews are at “different stages.”
Military personnel sidelined in this process have been instructed to work from home temporarily while the reviews continue, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, new hires, including some who served during Trump’s first term, are being appointed.
Even before Trump assumed office, his incoming administration began questioning NSC staff about their political affiliations and actions to assess their loyalty to the president.
Mike Waltz:
Trump’s National Security Advisor, told Breitbart News earlier in January that professional civil
servants appointed during the previous administration under President Joe Biden would be
“returned to their original federal agencies and departments.”
Trump swiftly signed executive orders that freeze federal hiring and mandate a return to full
office presence for government employees. Additionally, he reinstated Schedule F, which
simplifies the process of dismissing civil servants deemed “uncommitted.”
This move has sparked considerable debate regarding the autonomy of civil service roles and the
potential politicization of key government positions. Critics argue that such actions could
undermine the non-partisan nature of the civil service, while supporters see it as necessary for
ensuring alignment with presidential directives.
For those interested in the implications of these policies on governance, national security, and
employment rights within the U.S. federal system, this ongoing development is certainly one to
watch.
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