Staff Reports
The incoming team from Trump’s administration is already shaking things up on the National Security Council (NSC), and it’s not exactly business as usual. Rather than rolling out a welcome mat for all, the new officials are reportedly grilling career civil servants about their voting records, political donations, and social media opinions that might raise proverbial eyebrows with the big guy. This preemptive loyalty test has caused a stir among those who thought they could keep their jobs under the new regime. Surprise!
For many career employees, facing questions about loyalty to Trump is a rude awakening, especially since just days before, they had been given the green light to stay on with the NSC. With boxes being packed and nervous glances exchanged, the tension is palpable. It seems that the only thing certain in this transition is the certainty of uncertainty.
Incoming Trump team is questioning civil servants at National Security Council about their loyalty https://t.co/jlOW4twDVu pic.twitter.com/Ui3UNuUqHN
— Press & Guide (@pressandguide) January 13, 2025
Mike Waltz, Trump’s chosen national security adviser, is not one to mince words. He has hinted that any personnel at the NSC who lack enthusiastic buy-in for Trump’s agenda will find themselves tossed to the curb faster than a leftist snowflake can complain about free speech. Waltz’s clear intention to remove non-political appointees before the clock strikes noon on Inauguration Day raises the question: is expertise worth sacrificing for loyalty? Maybe for some, but in Trump’s eyes, loyalty takes precedence every time.
Critics and supporters alike are wondering what impact this head-hunting approach might have on U.S. national security policy, especially with ongoing crises abroad. Some may argue that ditching seasoned professionals for a team of Trump loyalists could leave the U.S. in a precarious position; this is akin to throwing out the biggest brains in the room just because they once supported someone else. Who needs institutional knowledge when you have, well, loyalty?
Jake Sullivan seems to be championing the opposite approach, arguing for a team that is “up to speed” as the world spins toward chaos. He insists that a cohesive group capable of handling the complexities of global challenges is paramount. But in a world filled with endless meddling and an unpredictable landscape, it’s easy to see why Trump’s team believes that with loyalty comes assurance. After all, who would you trust more: a career expert who might have a different agenda or a die-hard Trump supporter who only wants to watch America thrive?
As the transition unfolds, the fate of those civil servants remains uncertain. Will they be sent back to their respective agencies with a proverbial kick in the pants, or will they continue serving in the NSC’s hallowed halls? Regardless of where they end up, one thing is clear: Democracy is often messy, and Trump’s style is adding a whole new layer of chaos to government operations. For the Trump administration, the motto seems to be, “No politics, no problem—unless it’s our politics!”
