As President Joe Biden prepares to deliver a final case for his foreign policy legacy, the incoming administration has begun signaling plans to overhaul the National Security Council (NSC) by replacing nonpolitical career appointees with their own handpicked selections. The incoming team has started questioning the loyalty of current career officials, including their voting history, political contributions, and social media posts.
Career officials, who are temporarily assigned to the NSC from other government agencies, are typically carried over to provide continuity in areas like national security and global conflicts. However, many of those currently serving on Biden’s NSC believe they will be asked to return to their home agencies soon after the new administration takes office.
Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has stated that the new administration plans to send current detailees back to their home agencies in favor of people they have selected themselves, aiming to stock the NSC with individuals who support Trump’s agenda. Waltz has already identified names of people to bring in once Trump takes office.
Efforts to investigate the loyalties of current nonpolitical staff have increased, with questions about voting history and social media posts being asked. Topic experts responsible for coordinating Biden’s approach to global issues are among those being questioned. The changes could add to the uncertainty around the incoming administration’s handling of global conflicts, including ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has expressed reservations about the prospective changes, stating he will reserve comment until the plans are made clear.
