White House fires National Security Agency chief

The Trump administration has fired General Timothy Haugh. He was the head of the National Security Agency (NSA) and US Cyber Command. This news comes from CBS, a partner of the BBC.

General Haugh's removal seems part of a larger purge. Other top security officials at the agency and White House have also been dismissed. Democrats are "deeply disturbed" by these changes, claiming they threaten national security.

The reason for General Haugh's firing is unclear. It follows a meeting between President Trump and activist Laura Loomer on Wednesday. Loomer reportedly urged Trump to fire employees she believed were disloyal.

Loomer posted on X that both Haugh and his deputy, Wendy Noble, were disloyal to Trump. She claimed this was why they were fired.

Before their firings became public, Trump spoke to reporters about loyalty. He stated he would remove any staff deemed disloyal or taking advantage of their positions.

Trump made these comments while aboard Air Force One. Reports indicated at least three other officials from the National Security Council (NSC) were also let go after his meeting with Loomer.

The NSA referred inquiries about the firings to the Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs. The White House previously stated it would not comment on personnel matters.

Top Democrats in Congress expressed concern over General Haugh's firing. Representative Jim Himes and Senator Mark Warner disclosed this information to CBS.

Himes said he was "deeply disturbed" by the decision to fire Haugh. He described Haugh as an honest leader who prioritized national security.

Those fired from the NSC included Brian Walsh, Thomas Boodry, and David Feith. It remains unclear if their dismissals relate to those of Haugh and Noble.

These firings follow a controversy involving the NSC last month. Senior officials accidentally added a journalist to a messaging thread about military strikes in Yemen.

General Haugh testified about this leak last week but was not involved in the chat itself. The connection between this incident and his firing is uncertain.

Trump has supported top officials involved in that incident, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Waltz took responsibility for adding the reporter but called it an accident.

Laura Loomer is known as a strong supporter of Trump. A source told CBS that the Signal incident led to scrutiny of staff members seen as misaligned with Trump’s agenda.

Loomer's visit reportedly sealed the fate for those terminated from their positions. The administration has been reviewing outside meetings held by national security staff as well.

While traveling on Air Force One to Miami, Florida, Trump praised Loomer as a "great patriot." He confirmed he had met with her and sometimes listens to her recommendations before making decisions.

In a phone call with BBC, Loomer declined to share details about her meeting with Trump, calling it confidential. She criticized leakers within the White House for sharing information about her meeting.

Loomer stated it was an honor to meet with Trump and present her research findings. She emphasized her commitment to supporting Trump's agenda and ensuring strong vetting for national security purposes.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under review regarding his use of Signal during this incident. The Pentagon's acting inspector general will investigate whether he followed department policies related to communication tools.

Inspector general offices routinely conduct independent investigations into federal agencies for possible security breaches or misconduct issues.