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Fortune

Fortune

US Politics

US Politics

Trump staff sends 160 national security aides home as the White House aligns team with president’s agenda

Fortune
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80% Informative

About 160 National Security Council aides are sent home while the administration reviews staffing and tries to align it with Trump ’s agenda.

The NSC provides national security and foreign policy advice to the president.

The move could make new policy experts brought in to the NSC less likely to speak up about policy differences and concerns.

Two career military officers detailed to the NSC raised their concerns about Trump ’s 2019 call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump sought an investigation of Biden and his son Hunter .

Alexander Vindman was listening to the call in his role as an NSC official when he became alarmed at what he heard.

He approached his twin brother, Eugene , who at the time was serving as an ethics lawyer.

Both Vindmans reported their concerns to superiors.