Trump team vetting White House officials for loyalty, sources say

New senior officials within President-elect Donald Trump’s administration have started interviewing career civil servants working on the National Security Council (NSC), raising concerns over loyalty to the incoming president.

Sources familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that the Trump transition team is questioning NSC employees about their 2024 election votes, political contributions, and social media activity that could be seen as compromising to the administration, per Caliber.Az.

At least some career staffers, who were previously informed they could stay on in their roles, began packing up after being asked about their allegiance to Trump, according to an anonymous source.

Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, has publicly announced plans to remove non-political appointees and career intelligence officers from the NSC by inauguration day. Waltz's goal is to ensure the NSC is staffed with individuals who align with Trump’s policies.

However, such a sweeping removal of experienced foreign policy and national security experts could leave the administration lacking institutional knowledge at a time when the U.S. is facing significant global challenges, including ongoing tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan denied knowledge of any vetting activities and argued that retaining career officials within the NSC, at least temporarily, could benefit the new administration.

A transition official, speaking on condition of anonymity, defended the vetting process, stating it is appropriate to seek out officials who share Trump’s vision and can support his agenda.

The NSC, created during the Truman administration, coordinates national security and foreign policy efforts. It is common for experts detailed to the NSC to remain in place across administrations, regardless of political party.

Trump’s first term was marked by controversy over two career military officers, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and his brother, Eugene Vindman, who raised concerns over Trump’s 2019 call to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. The call, in which Trump sought an investigation into Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, led to Trump’s first impeachment.

In response to the recent vetting efforts, Alexander Vindman criticized the Trump team’s approach, warning it would have a chilling effect on policy officials across the government. He expressed concern that talented professionals would either self-censor or avoid serving altogether for fear of dismissal for expressing principled opinions.

Vindman, praised by Democrats as a patriot for his testimony during the impeachment proceedings, was derided by Trump as disloyal. Eugene Vindman, who was recently elected as a Democrat to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, echoed his brother’s concerns.

By Tamilla Hasanova