White House set to replace NSC Europe chief amid wider reshuffle

WASHINGTON: The White House’s senior official for Europe is expected to leave in the coming days as part of a broader reshuffle at the National Security Council (NSC), according to people familiar with the changes. The personnel moves are seen by some sources as likely to give Secretary of State Marco Rubio greater day-to-day influence over policymaking at the NSC.

Charles McLaughlin, the senior director for European and Russian Affairs, is set to depart, according to four people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the staffing changes were not public. The sources said the latest moves would place more officials aligned with Rubio in important NSC positions.

Rubio is also serving as President Donald Trump’s acting national security adviser. The changes indicate that he and his team may be taking a more active role in how the NSC is managed and staffed, a shift that could increase the body’s influence after a period in which its role had been reduced during Trump’s second administration.

It was not immediately clear why McLaughlin was leaving. A White House official said he would return to the National Defense University, a Pentagon-funded institution where he had been serving as a professor. The official said McLaughlin had been detailed from the university and that his assignment was due to expire in mid-June.

European concerns and White House response

McLaughlin is a former army special operations officer with private-sector experience. European officials had generally regarded him positively on a personal level and considered him a fair professional, though many also viewed him as more inclined toward normalising ties with Russia than toward increasing pressure on Moscow.

With US policy under Trump causing unease among European allies, McLaughlin’s departure is being watched closely. Trump has recently taken a tougher tone with several Nato allies, accusing them of failing to assist the United States in its war against Iran. Some European officials are said to be hoping his replacement will take a harder line on Russia, although the policy impact will depend on who is ultimately appointed.

McLaughlin did not respond to a request for comment. After the report was published, the White House challenged the portrayal of his position on Russia. "Charles McLaughlin has only advocated for President Trump's agenda to bring peace to world conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine War," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said.

Kelly also said the European officials cited "have no idea what they are talking about."

Broader NSC changes

McLaughlin’s exit comes during a wider reorganisation at the NSC, which has traditionally coordinated national security policy across the US government. Under former president Joe Biden, the council had a central role in many major foreign policy decisions, prompting private complaints from some State Department and Pentagon officials that it had become too dominant.

Its standing began to weaken after Trump returned to office in January 2025 and removed NSC staff. In April that year, he dismissed then-national security adviser Mike Waltz. Since then, Rubio has held both the top diplomatic post and the leading national security role, while many NSC staff members have been excluded from key decisions.

Further changes followed in late May, when Robert Gabriel, one of two deputy national security advisers and a close confidant of Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, left for the private sector. Last week, State Department counselor Mike Needham, one of Rubio’s closest aides, moved to the NSC as a deputy national security adviser.

Among the officials being considered to replace McLaughlin is Chris Curran, another senior Rubio aide, according to the sources. Curran is currently on the State Department’s Policy Planning staff and has been directly involved in talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. The sources said no final decision had been made and that other candidates were also under consideration. Curran did not respond to a request for comment.

One of the sources said Needham is among those involved in selecting McLaughlin’s successor. Two of the sources said they expected more departures from the NSC in the coming weeks.