The White House has dismissed several senior officials from the National Security Council (NSC) amid rising internal conflicts within President Donald Trump’s administration, according to multiple sources familiar with the developments.
The firings followed a meeting between President Trump and Laura Loomer, a far-right activist known for her conspiracy theories, where she reportedly questioned the loyalty of certain NSC officials.
Those dismissed included Thomas Boodry, responsible for legislative affairs and former aide to National Security Adviser Mike Waltz; David Feith, who was in charge of technology and national security; and Brian Walsh, who worked on intelligence and previously served Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his Senate tenure.
The dismissals underscore tensions between the team of National Security Adviser Waltz and the White House Presidential Personnel Office (PPO), led by Sergio Gor, a former spokesperson for Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The conflicts involve disagreements over potential administration hires deemed misaligned with Trump’s foreign policy goals.
NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes commented, “NSC doesn’t comment on personnel matters.”
Tensions between Waltz’s team and the PPO reportedly date back to the start of Trump’s transition in November 2024. According to a source familiar with NSC hiring decisions, Gor has blocked Waltz’s picks for key NSC roles despite their alignment with Waltz and Trump’s views on adversaries like China and Iran.
“It’s astounding to me that Waltz has the trust of the president on national security issues but not the trust to staff his own team,” said a source, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of internal White House matters.
White House insiders express concern that these dismissals could hinder Waltz’s ability to fill the NSC with experienced national security professionals, potentially affecting Trump’s foreign policy efforts.
A former Biden national security official, speaking anonymously, noted, “All these jobs have a real learning curve and pushing a reset will set the Trump team back by months.”
The dismissals also coincide with the “Signalgate” controversy involving NSC officials using the Signal app for sensitive military discussions. The scandal erupted after a journalist was inadvertently included in a Signal group chat discussing operations.
The New York Times reported that National Security Adviser Waltz, under pressure from the Signal controversy, briefly attended Trump’s meeting with Loomer to advocate for his team.
The exact link between Loomer’s meeting with Trump and the subsequent firings remains unclear.
Loomer, known for spreading conspiracy theories, reportedly provided Trump with information on NSC staffers she viewed as not fully supportive of his “Make America Great Again” agenda, naming about a dozen officials for potential removal.
While Trump denies Loomer had a direct role in the firings, he has praised her as a “great patriot” and acknowledged considering personnel recommendations.
In a post on X, Loomer confirmed the meeting and criticized the leaks, stating, “there are still people in and around the West Wing who are LEAKING to the hostile, left-wing media” about Trump’s private Oval Office meetings. She called for strong vetting to safeguard the President and national security.
The dismissals occurred a week after Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) defended Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong against accusations from Loomer and others that Wong and his wife were Chinese government agents—a claim lacking evidence.
Senator Cotton, for whom Wong worked, stated on social media that Wong and his wife are “complete and total patriots, 100% MAGA Warriors who always put America First,” adding, “America is safer and better off with Alex in the White House.”
Wong was targeted by Loomer during her meeting with Trump but was not among those dismissed in this round of dismissals.
The vetting process for administration officials has intensified under Trump, with the PPO scrutinizing applicants’ loyalty to the president’s agenda through social media and political affiliations.
The Pentagon’s acting inspector general has announced a review of Waltz’s and other defense officials’ use of the Signal app for sensitive discussions, adding complexity to the ongoing NSC turmoil.
