President Trump has ordered a significant reduction of staff at the National Security Council, according to Bloomberg, citing "Five people familiar with the plans." The cuts were described as part of a White House initiative to streamline the agency under new National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien.
Some lawmakers have threatened to make the national security adviser a Senate-confirmed position if the administration didn't reduce the number of people working at the president's foreign policy shop.
Bloomberg links the decision to a whistleblower complaint over Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A second whistleblower is reportedly waiting in the wings, ready to corroborate the original whistleblower's allegations that President Trump abused his office when he asked that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son for corruption.
Last month, O'Brien took over the NSC after his predecessor, John Bolton, was fired following high-profile disputes with Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over North Korea and Afghanistan - part of which was a canceled meeting with Taliban leaders.
Earlier this week, O'Brien appointed Alex Gray, formerly the National Security Council's Oceania and Indo-Pacific security director, to be a senior adviser, according to three people familiar with the plan.
Gray's appointment follows that of Matt Pottinger, who is now deputy national security adviser after serving previously as the NSC's senior director for Asia.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-orders-cuts-national-security-council-amid-whistleblower-saga
Some lawmakers have threatened to make the national security adviser a Senate-confirmed position if the administration didn't reduce the number of people working at the president's foreign policy shop.
Bloomberg links the decision to a whistleblower complaint over Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A second whistleblower is reportedly waiting in the wings, ready to corroborate the original whistleblower's allegations that President Trump abused his office when he asked that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son for corruption.
Last month, O'Brien took over the NSC after his predecessor, John Bolton, was fired following high-profile disputes with Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over North Korea and Afghanistan - part of which was a canceled meeting with Taliban leaders.
Earlier this week, O'Brien appointed Alex Gray, formerly the National Security Council's Oceania and Indo-Pacific security director, to be a senior adviser, according to three people familiar with the plan.
Gray's appointment follows that of Matt Pottinger, who is now deputy national security adviser after serving previously as the NSC's senior director for Asia.
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/trump-orders-cuts-national-security-council-amid-whistleblower-saga
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