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Top Democratic leaders in Congress voiced strong opposition on Thursday to the reported dismissal of General Tim Haugh as director of the National Security Agency (NSA). One lawmaker expressed concerns that this decision could compromise national security.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday evening that both Haugh and Wendy Noble, who served as his deputy, had been removed from their positions. Haugh also held leadership over the U.S. Cyber Command, the entity responsible for overseeing the Pentagon’s cybersecurity initiatives. The report relied on information from two current U.S. officials and one former official, all of whom requested to remain anonymous.
Senator Mark Warner, who serves as vice-chair of the Senate intelligence committee, issued a statement emphasizing Haugh’s honorable service to the nation over more than three decades. He questioned how Haugh’s firing could enhance the safety of Americans, particularly in light of escalating cyber threats.
Representative Jim Himes, the ranking member on the House intelligence committee, also expressed his alarm regarding the decision. He noted his long-standing respect for Haugh, highlighting his integrity and commitment to national security, which he fears may have contributed to the decision to dismiss him. Himes called for an immediate explanation from the intelligence committee, suggesting that the firing poses risks to national safety.
On the same day, President Donald Trump announced he had terminated several officials from the White House National Security Council, following a private meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer, who raised concerns about staff loyalty to his administration.
During her conversation with Trump, Loomer urged him to remove individuals she deemed untrustworthy regarding his “Make America Great Again” agenda, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
“We’re consistently letting people go,” Trump remarked to reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Miami. “It includes those we distrust or those we feel are not performing as expected, including individuals who may have conflicting loyalties.”
These personnel changes come amid controversies surrounding Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz, who faces ongoing scrutiny for reportedly discussing sensitive military operations on a public encrypted messaging platform.
Warner further criticized the decision to let Haugh go, pointing out the irony in dismissing the nonpartisan leader of the NSA while the president does not hold his team accountable for leaking classified information using a commercial messaging app. The senator also noted the troubling influence Loomer, whom he described as a discredited conspiracy theorist, seemed to have over strategic staffing in the Oval Office.
Recently, Haugh met with Elon Musk, who has initiated drastic changes throughout the federal government through his initiative dubbed the “Department of Government Efficiency.” The NSA stated that the meeting aimed to facilitate alignment between both entities regarding the new administration’s goals.
Haugh had spearheaded both the NSA and Cyber Command since 2023, organizations pivotal in safeguarding the nation’s cybersecurity. The NSA collaborates with military and other national security institutions to gather and analyze extensive data globally.
Cyber Command is recognized as the frontline defense in cyberspace and is also involved in planning offensive cyberoperations against adversarial entities. Recently, the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, instructed a pause on certain offensive cyberoperations targeting Russia, underscoring the significant transformations underway within the U.S. intelligence community under Trump’s administration.
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www.theguardian.com