Former Trump Official Warns of NSC Staffing Mistakes That Could Undermine GOP Agenda
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A former Trump official is sounding the alarm over what he perceives as critical mistakes being made regarding the National Security Council (NSC) that could severely undermine the incoming Republican administration’s agenda.
Joshua Steinman, who served on Trump’s National Security Council for four years during his first term, expressed his concerns over the weekend, warning that decisions being made now could lead to “four years of ineffective governance at best, betrayal at worst.”
“Out of loyalty to him, I am going public,” Steinman said in a post on his social media, referring to his ongoing loyalty to the President-elect. Steinman’s warning is directed at the current handling of personnel within the NSC. He emphasized that “PERSONNEL IS POLICY,” noting that decisions on staffing could have disastrous consequences for President Trump’s ability to push forward his agenda, told Gateway Pundit.
While he made it clear that his comments were not aimed at specific individuals like Rep. Waltz or Alex Wang, who he believes “love POTUS and mean well,” Steinman believes they are receiving poor advice that could hinder Trump’s efforts.
He elaborated, “It appears they are getting bad advice that will have CASCADING and CATASTROPHIC impact on President Trump’s ability to execute his agenda, end war, bring prosperity, etc.” Steinman used the metaphor of a football team to explain his concerns: “If the President is the owner of the football team, the NSC is the Quarterback.”
The former NSC staffer expressed particular concern over reports that a significant portion of the NSC staff from the previous Joe Biden administration may be allowed to remain in place. He described this as a “serious error if true,” arguing that removing these individuals isn’t personal but rather “prudent.”
Steinman revealed that during his time on the National Security Council, he and others advocated for a rapid turnover of staff, but their efforts were blocked due to concerns about the optics of mass firings. “Fearing ‘Optics’ of a mass firing, we were told no, and ~50% stayed,” he said.
He stressed that this situation mirrors what occurred in President Biden’s first days in office. “THIS IS WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN DID, four years later. WE SHOULD DO THE SAME.” In his final remarks, Steinman recalled that “the person who (allegedly) kicked off the first impeachment” was among those who stayed on early in the Biden administration, underscoring the importance of rapid staff turnover for the new administration’s success.
This cautionary message was echoed by conservative outlets like Gateway Pundit, which warned that the current staffing situation could “undermine” Trump’s new term.
