The Trump administration has dismissed Timothy Haugh, the director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and head of U.S. Cyber Command, in a sudden move that has sent shockwaves through the national security establishment. The firing, reported late Thursday, also included the removal of NSA deputy director Wendy Noble.
Pressure from the Oval Office
According to reports from The Washington Post and The New York Times, the decision follows a meeting in the Oval Office on Thursday. During the session, right-wing activist Laura Loomer reportedly urged President Donald Trump to remove Haugh and several other high-ranking national security officials.
Haugh, a career military officer, had been at the helm of the U.S.’s primary signals intelligence agency for just over a year, having assumed the role in February 2024. Alongside his NSA duties, he commanded the military unit responsible for offensive cyber operations against global adversaries.
Leadership Transition Amid Uncertainty
Following the abrupt dismissals, the NSA confirmed that Lt. Gen. William J. Hartman has been appointed as the acting head of both the NSA and Cyber Command. Sheila Thomas, a veteran intelligence official, will serve as the acting deputy director of the NSA.
When questioned regarding the rationale behind the firing, both the White House and the Department of Defense declined to provide specific details. A Department of Defense spokesperson stated that the organization was aware of the reports but had “nothing to offer at this time.”
Congressional Backlash
The decision to oust Haugh has drawn sharp criticism from senior lawmakers overseeing intelligence operations. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, labeled the firing as “astonishing.”
“General Haugh has served our country in uniform, with honor and distinction, for more than 30 years,” Warner said. He questioned the strategic logic of the move, noting: “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?”
Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, also expressed he was “deeply disturbed” by the administration’s decision.
The Musk Connection
The removal follows months of reported tension regarding the future of the spy agency. In March, The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency, met with Haugh at NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. While the NSA characterized that meeting as an effort to align agency priorities with the administration, Musk had previously publicly advocated for an “overhaul” of the organization.
Warner further criticized the administration for the dismissal, contrasting it with the lack of accountability regarding the recent leak of classified information concerning airstrikes in Yemen via a private messaging group that included a journalist.