President Trump has ordered massive cuts to the White House National Security Council, sending dozens of policy experts packing on Friday, one of the officials who was let go told NPR.
The official said that the dismissals were abrupt. Staffers were notified at 4:30 p.m. and asked to leave by 5 p.m. "We're all talking among ourselves," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. The cuts went deep. For example, in the Middle East section, headcount went from 10 staffers to five.
The goal of the overhaul is to eliminate bureaucracy and duplication, with most parts of the operation shifting back to their home departments and agencies, a second source with direct knowledge of the plans told NPR. The source spoke on condition of anonymity to protect private conversations.
A storied US agency, one that began under President Kennedy in 1961 with the aim of...
