Over 100 US National Security Council staff placed on administrative leave as part of major restructuring

ISTANBUL

More than 100 officials at the US National Security Council (NSC) were placed on administrative leave on Friday as President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have decided to change their roles, transferring many of them to the state and defense departments.

A White House official described the reorganization as the latest step by Trump and Rubio against what they view as the Washington "Deep State," Axios reported.

"The NSC is the ultimate Deep State. It's Marco vs. the Deep State. We're gutting the Deep State," the official told Axios about the move, which will cut the NSC staff to about half of its current 350 members.

Officials stated that those removed from the NSC will be reassigned to other positions within the government.

Another White House official said the NSC's focus would be to "coordinate and advise — not carry out — policy."

"The right-sizing of the NSC is in line with its original purpose and the president's vision," Rubio said. "The NSC will now be better positioned to collaborate with agencies," he added.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration carried out its first major staff change by removing Mike Waltz from his position as head of the National Security Council.

Trump said he would nominate Waltz as UN ambassador, while Rubio was appointed interim head of the NSC.