US National Security Council staff fired en masse, including Mideast, Israel, Iran chiefs

The top US National Security Council (NSC) officials for the Middle East, Israel and Iran were among many dozens of officials dismissed from their roles as part of a major overhaul of the White House body by Donald Trump’s administration, a source familiar with the matter confirms to The Times of Israel.

NSC Middle East and North Africa senior director Eric Trager and NSC Israel and Iran director Merav Ceren were among those pushed out on Friday, May 23, as part of a purge aimed at significantly downsizing the NSC staff, the source says, confirming reporting in the Axios news site and Jewish Insider.

The move is expected to elevate the importance of the State Department and Pentagon in advising Trump on important foreign policy moves. But, ultimately, Trump relies on his own instincts above all else when making decisions.

There were roughly 395 people working at the NSC, including about 180 support staff, according to one official. A large chunk of those being ousted are policy or subject-matter experts seconded from other government agencies. They will be given an opportunity to return to their home agencies if they want.

Many of the political appointees will also be given positions elsewhere in the administration, the official said.

The NSC has been in a continual state of tumult during the early going of Trump’s second go-around in the White House.

Trump previously ousted National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, weeks after he fired several NSC officials on the day after the influential far-right activist Laura Loomer raised concerns directly to him about staff loyalty. Loomer has in the past spread 9/11 conspiracy theories and promoted QAnon, an apocalyptic and convoluted conspiracy theory centered on the belief that Trump is fighting the “deep state,” and she took credit for the ouster of the NSC officials that she argued were disloyal.

Trager and Ceren were both hired by Waltz. They were seen to have held more traditionally Republican, hawkish and pro-Israel views, as opposed to the more isolationist, MAGA wing in the GOP that is more loyal to Trump and has gradually expanded its influence in the administration.

AP contributed to this report.