The Trump administration has fired the director of the National Security Agency as well as his deputy, prompting outrage from congressional Democrats.
Director Gen. Timothy Haugh was ousted late Thursday along with his civilian deputy Wendy Noble, a decision that followed the firing of several other top NSA staffers earlier that day.
Haugh, who also leads the U.S. Cyber Command, has more than 30 years experience in the U.S. Air Force and led numerous cyber operations to counter efforts from Russia and other U.S. adversaries.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the decision.
“I have known General Haugh to be an honest and forthright leader who followed the law and put national security first—I fear those are precisely the qualities that could lead to his firing in this Administration,” he said in a statement.
“The Intelligence Committee and the American people need an immediate explanation for this decision, which makes all of us less safe.”
Trump fired at least three senior staffers and two junior officials at the White House National Security Council (NSC) — a day after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer. She argued that some within the NSC are not sufficiently loyal to his agenda.
Loomer, a far right activist who has promoted conspiracy theories about 9/11, called the two NSA leaders disloyal and described both as “Biden holdovers” despite years of public service under presidents of both parties.
“NSA Director Tim Haugh and his deputy Wendy Noble have been disloyal to President Trump. That is why they have been fired,” she wrote on the social platform X.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, invoked the recent Signal app breach among top Trump administration officials in his criticism.
“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,” he wrote on X, referencing Loomer.
He also praised Haugh for a long career served with “honor and distinction.”
“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?” he added.
While Noble was reportedly reassigned to a post at the Pentagon, the toppling of its leaders follows the firing of other key staffers at Loomer’s urging.
Also removed Thursday were Brian Walsh, senior director of intelligence; Thomas Boodry, senior director of legislative affairs; and David Feith, senior director of technology and national security. According to The Washington Post, David Feith, a senior director for technology and national security; and Maggie Dougherty, a senior director for international operations, were also dismissed.
Trump told reporters Thursday he “sometimes” takes Loomer’s advice but shot down the idea that she was responsible for the latest axing.
“Laura Loomer is a great patriot. She’s a very strong person,” he said.
“She makes recommendations on things and people, and sometimes I listen to those recommendations, like I do with everybody,” the president added. “I listen to everybody, and then I make a decision.”
Trump’s senior adviser Elon Musk, who has overseen the Department of Government Efficiency, met with Haugh at the NSA’s headquarters in Fort Meade, Md., in mid-March, a week after he argued that the spy agency needs to be overhauled.
Updated at 9:43 a.m. EDT
