Trump Boots NSA Director and Deputy, Swamp Scrambles

Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh, Director of the National Security Agency, was removed from his position on Thursday, according to reports citing current and former U.S. officials.

His dismissal coincided with the reported departure of at least three staff members from the White House National Security Council (NSC), marking a significant shift in the national security landscape.

Haugh’s civilian deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble, was also removed from her post. She has been reassigned to a position within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence at the Pentagon, according to The Washington Post.

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No official explanation has been provided for the shakeup.

Haugh, who has served as both the NSA Director and the chief of U.S. Cyber Command, began his leadership of the NSA in February 2024.

It is not yet clear whether he will continue in his role at Cyber Command following his departure from the NSA, which is headquartered in Fort Meade, Maryland.

Lt. Gen. William J. Hartmann, currently Haugh’s deputy at Cyber Command, is expected to step in as acting director of the NSA, according to The Washington Post.

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The timing of the firings raised questions, particularly following a recent visit by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk to NSA headquarters.

Musk was hosted by Haugh just last month during what was reported to be his first known visit to a U.S. intelligence facility.

While no official reason has been given for Haugh’s dismissal or the other departures at the National Security Council, the changes quickly drew criticism from some members of Congress.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a statement on X criticizing the decision.

“General Haugh has served our country in uniform, with honor and distinction, for more than 30 years. At a time when the United States is facing unprecedented cyber threats, as the Salt Typhoon cyberattack from China has so clearly underscored, how does firing him make Americans any safer?”

General Haugh has served our country in uniform, with honor and distinction, for more than 30 years. At a time when the United States is facing unprecedented cyber threats, as the Salt Typhoon cyberattack from China has so clearly underscored, how does firing him make Americans… https://t.co/T0klYNMy0C

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) April 4, 2025

Warner also criticized President Trump directly, tying the firings to a recent Oval Office meeting with conservative commentator Laura Loomer.

“It is astonishing that President Trump would fire the nonpartisan, experienced leader of the NSA while still failing to hold any member of his team accountable for leaking classified information on a commercial messaging app — even as he apparently takes staffing direction on national security from a discredited conspiracy theorist in the Oval Office,” Warner said in a separate post.

It is astonishing that President Trump would fire the nonpartisan, experienced leader of the NSA while still failing to hold any member of his team accountable for leaking classified information on a commercial messaging app – even as he apparently takes staffing direction on…

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) April 4, 2025

President Trump confirmed on Thursday that he had met with Loomer but denied any connection between their meeting and the NSC personnel changes.

The NSA, when contacted for comment by The Washington Post, referred inquiries to the Pentagon. The Department of Defense has not issued a public statement regarding the matter. The White House has also not responded to requests for comment on Haugh’s removal.

General Haugh’s future role within the Department of Defense remains unclear, as does the status of the broader shakeup within national security leadership.

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