Trump fired NSA leadership after meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer
Logo of the National Security Agency (NSA) (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The Trump administration has dismissed the director and deputy director of the National Security Agency (NSA), a powerful cyber intelligence agency, following a meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer, CNN reports.
General Timothy Haugh, who headed the NSA and the US Cyber Command - a military cyber defense unit - was fired along with his deputy, Wendy Noble.
According to CNN, the decision was made by Trump after a meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer. During the meeting, Loomer insisted on the dismissal of Haugh and Noble, arguing that they had shown disloyalty.
According to Loomer, General Haugh was appointed to his position during the Biden administration on the recommendation of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley. Loomer stated, "General Haugh and his deputy Wendy Noble have been disloyal to President Trump. That is why they have been fired."
The political reaction to this decision was mixed.
Senator Mark Warner and Congressman Jim Himes sharply criticized the dismissal of Haugh, calling it a "dangerous move" for US cyber security.
House Intelligence Committee member Josh Gottheimer told CNN, "At moments like this, you shouldn’t destabilize the National Security Agency, but that’s exactly what the president did without any explanation."
Consequences for national security
Trump’s decision has raised concerns among former and current military officials who fear for the country's security.
Cybersecurity expert Renée Burton called the firing of Haugh and Noble "alarming," noting that replacing them could undermine years of accumulated experience and expertise in the field of cyber intelligence.
It is expected that Lieutenant General William Hartman will temporarily serve as the head of Cyber Command and the NSA. However, the question remains how the dismissal will affect the agency’s efficiency.
