General Timothy D. Haugh has been removed from his position as head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command. This surprising decision was announced on Thursday and has raised eyebrows among lawmakers and intelligence officials.
Senator Mark Warner from Virginia and Representative Jim Himes from Connecticut, both leading figures on congressional intelligence committees, expressed their disapproval of Haugh’s ousting. They highlighted the unexpected nature of the move, which seemed to catch many in the intelligence community off guard.
While a spokesperson for Cyber Command declined to confirm Haugh’s removal and directed inquiries to the Pentagon, the Pentagon did not respond to requests for clarification. Similarly, a White House spokesperson did not provide any confirmation regarding the situation.
According to a U.S. official familiar with the matter, the push for Haugh’s removal came from Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and external adviser to President Trump. Loomer reportedly called for Haugh’s dismissal during a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office on the same day. Following this meeting, Trump instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to carry out the dismissal.
This sudden change in leadership raises questions about the future direction of the NSA and Cyber Command, especially given the critical roles these agencies play in national security and cyber defense. As more details emerge, the implications of this decision will likely become clearer.