A CNN investigation says the National Security Council, created after World War II to prevent a president from waging war with too little advice, was hollowed out under Donald Trump just as he was confronting Iran. Since returning to the White House, Trump reduced the council from about 200 staffers to less than half that number.
According to the report, some of the cuts were pushed by Laura Loomer, the far-right activist and conspiracy theorist, who argued the council contained people insufficiently loyal to Trump. With fewer experts in the room, Trump relied on a small inner circle, including national security adviser Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff. Former officials said military planners were kept out of early Iran-war discussions and then suddenly had to move American assets to the Middle East.
Several former Trump officials said the smaller council affected U.S. policy during the wars in Iran and Ukraine. They argued a broader body could have coordinated more closely with Gulf allies, prepared for an Iranian response, and better considered the possibility that Tehran would try to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of world oil flows. CNN said the administration underestimated that risk even though the U.S. military had long trained for such a scenario. Trump announced a framework deal with Iran on Sunday night, with a formal signing expected on Friday in Switzerland.
The White House rejected the criticism. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the council is “more effective and responsive to the president’s priorities than ever before,” and called claims that major agencies were excluded from Operation “Righteous Rage” “ridiculous.” Still, sources said many agencies, including Treasury and Energy, were sidelined, even though the National Security Council was designed to gather Pentagon, intelligence, State, Treasury and other officials in one room. The report also cites wider signs of breakdown, including Ukraine aid being paused without the White House’s knowledge and some planning shifted to other Trump White House power centers.
