After Conspiracy Theorist Laura Loomer Complains, Trump Fires Director Of NSA, Nation’s Top Cybersecurity Offical

President Donald Trump has unexpectedly fired Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh, the director of the National Security Agency. Haugh has also served as Commander of the United States Cyber Command and Chief of the Central Security Service. Haugh’s deputy, Wendy Noble, was also removed from her position. No reason was given for their firings.

The White House and the Pentagon did not respond to questions, while the NSA deferred questions to the Defense Department.

The chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, thanked Haugh “for his decades of service to our nation, culminating as U.S. Cyber Command Commander and National Security Agency Director. We wish him and his family well.” 

The NSA is the cyber intelligence bureau crucial for military support and national security.

Laura Loomer, a far-right Trump adviser, wrote in a post on X, “Given the fact that the NSA is arguably the most powerful intel agency in the world, we cannot allow for a Biden nominee to hold that position. Thank you, President Trump, for being receptive to the vetting materials provided to you, and thank you for firing these Biden holdovers.”

It is speculated that Loomer, a notorious conspiracy theorist, may have prompted the firing of Haugh after a discussion with Trump questioning staff loyalty.

Rep. Jim Hines (D-Connecticut) wrote to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding this, saying, “Public reporting suggests that your removal of these officials was driven by a fringe social media personality,” referring to Loomer. He considers this “a deeply troubling breach of the norms that safeguard our national security apparatus from political pressure and conspiracy theories.”

Sen. Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) similarly stated that he has “long warned about the dangers of firing military officers as a political loyalty test” and that Trump “is sending a chilling message through the ranks: don’t give your best military advice, or you may face consequences.” 

Although Trump has not directly commented on Haugh, he told reporters, “Always we’re letting go of people. People that we don’t like or people that we don’t think can do the job or people that may have loyalties to somebody else.”