Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons
CV NEWS FEED // President Donald Trump dismissed several National Security Council (NSC) officials Thursday after two weeks of mounting concerns in the wake of a Signal chat leak regarding military strikes in Yemen.
“Always, we’re going to let go of people we don’t like, or people we don’t think can do the job, or people who may have loyalties to somebody else,” Trump told reporters Thursday evening, when asked about the firings.
He emphasized that only a few individuals were let go and reaffirmed his continued trust in the national security team despite the controversy.
The firings mark the most significant personnel shift at the NSC since the leak was first reported.
Among those dismissed were Brian Walsh, David Feith, Thomas Boodry, and Maggie Dougherty—officials involved in intelligence, technology, legislative affairs, and international organizations.
The move comes as the NSC faces continued media attention and political pressure over its internal communications practices.
In March, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz mistakenly included a journalist in a secure Signal chat discussing military operations in Yemen. Waltz later took “full responsibility” for the error during a Fox News interview, calling it “embarrassing” and vowing to investigate how the journalist was added. He also denied knowing the journalist involved prior to the incident.
Despite backlash from some lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who called for Waltz’s resignation, the administration has remained firmly supportive. Intelligence officials confirmed no classified material was shared, and the Signal platform is approved for unclassified communications.
“As the president has made it very clear, Mike Waltz continues to be an important part of his national security team,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday. “And this case has been closed here at the White House, as far as we are concerned.”
Separate media reports revealed that Waltz’s Venmo account had publicly visible contacts, prompting additional criticism from some security analysts. The administration has not commented on those reports, focusing instead on implementing reforms to strengthen digital communication procedures.
“President Trump absolutely has full confidence in his security team,” Leavitt said during a Fox News interview last week, adding that the “real story” is the Trump administration’s success in removing terrorist threats.
The administration has framed the controversy as a politically driven distraction from its broader national security successes.
