General Timothy Haugh, the head of both the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command, has been removed from his position by the Trump administration.
The firing, confirmed by Democratic lawmakers on Thursday night, comes at a time when national security in the U.S. is under threat.
Haugh had been head of the NSA for just over a year, following his appointment in February 2024. Known for his long standing military career, he oversaw operations within the agency responsible for the nation’s wiretapping and intelligence gathering.
He was also in charge of Cyber Command, which conducts offensive cyber operations aimed at adversaries.
The sudden exit of Haugh and NSA deputy director Wendy Noble, who was also dismissed, has left key positions within the agency vacant. There is currently no clarity on who is running the NSA and Cyber Command in the wake of their removal. The White House, as well as the Department of Defense, have remained tight-lipped on the exact reasons for the firings.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defense merely acknowledged the reports but refrained from offering further details, leaving many to speculate. The move has caught lawmakers off guard, with some expressing disbelief and concern.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, described the firing as “astonishing” and questioned its implications for national security, particularly in light of recent cyberattacks like the Salt Typhoon hack, which involved China.
Warner’s frustration was palpable in his statement: “General Haugh has served our country in uniform, with honour and distinction, for more than 30 years,” he said. “At a time when the United States is facing unprecedented cyber threats, how does firing him make Americans any safer?”
The timing of Haugh’s dismissal is notable, following a meeting between President Donald Trump and right-wing activist Laura Loomer, during which Loomer reportedly advocated for the firing of several national security officials, including Haugh.
Loomer, who has been a vocal critic of the government, posted on social media that the NSA officials had been “disloyal” to the president, suggesting their removal was part of an ongoing purge of those not aligned with Trump’s agenda.
Trump’s response to these developments has been blunt. On a flight aboard Air Force One, he addressed the firings, claiming, “We’re always going to let go of people – people we don’t like or people that take advantage of, or people that may have loyalties to someone else.”
The move seems like part of a shake-up of the national security establishment. Reports reveal that the Trump administration has removed several key staffers within the National Security Council, following Loomer’s visit to the Oval Office. Among those dismissed were intelligence officials and senior figures responsible for national security and legislative affairs.
Congressman Jim Himes, who heads the House Intelligence Committee, said, “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.”
The issue surrounding these firings also points to leaks within the Trump administration. In March, a high-profile incident involving the accidental addition of a journalist to a classified Signal messaging group, which discussed military strikes in Yemen, had already raised questions about the handling of sensitive information. Haugh had testified about the leak, though he was not involved in the conversation.
Meanwhile, Loomer has defended her influence on the president, calling herself a “great patriot” and asserting that her recommendations are designed to strengthen national security. In a statement, she said, “It was an honour to meet with President Trump and present him with my research findings. I will continue working hard to support his agenda.”
However, her involvement in the decision-making process has left critics saying that the president’s reliance on a figure like Loomer, who has been involved in promoting controversial conspiracy theories, could sabotage the credibility and effectiveness of U.S. intelligence operations.
