Key facts
- Charles McLaughlin, senior director for European and Russian Affairs at the NSC, is expected to depart.
- The departure is part of a broader staff shake-up at the National Security Council.
- The changes could lead to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's allies taking more key NSC roles.
- Mike Needham, a trusted aide to Rubio, recently moved to the NSC as a deputy national security adviser.
- McLaughlin will return to the National Defense University as a professor.
The White House's top Europe expert, Charles McLaughlin, is expected to leave his position as senior director for European and Russian Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC) in the coming days. This move is part of a larger staff reshuffling within the NSC. Sources suggest these changes may result in Rubio allies securing more influential roles within the NSC, potentially increasing Secretary of State Marco Rubio's day-to-day control over policymaking. Mike Needham, a close aide to Rubio, recently transitioned to the NSC as a deputy national security adviser. McLaughlin, a former army special operations officer, is reportedly returning to the National Defense University. His departure comes as the NSC has seen a diminished role since former President Trump returned to office, with many NSC staffers reportedly excluded from key decisions. Additional departures from the NSC are anticipated in the coming weeks.