Trump said to fire several National Security Council officials

Several high-ranking White House National Security Council officials have been fired, according to three people familiar with the matter, in what appears to be the first significant purge of Donald Trump’s second presidency.

It was not clear exactly why the officials were let go or if their firing is permanent. But three of the sources say that several were told there were issues with their background vetting.

One of the sources says there were also concerns about leaks to the media, while two other sources suggest the ouster was aimed broadly at officials who held views that were seen as too interventionist for the liking of Trump’s allies.

Among the several NSC officials who were fired were David Feith, a senior director overseeing technology and national security, Brian Walsh, a senior director overseeing intelligence matters and Thomas Boodry, who oversees legislative affairs, the sources tell Reuters.

The news of the firings comes a day after an Oval Office meeting between Trump and right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who privately called on the president to fire some NSC staffers. Any connection between Loomer’s private suggestions and the firings was not immediately clear, and two sources said some dismissals came before Loomer met with Trump.