By Dustin Volz

WASHINGTON -- Gen. Tim Haugh, the chief of the National Security Agency, was fired Thursday at the direction of the White House, according to people familiar with the matter.

Haugh, who jointly helms U.S. Cyber Command, the military's combatant command for offensive use of cyberattacks, was informed by the White House that his services were no longer required, the people said, adding that his civilian deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble, was also let go.

The reasons for the dismissals couldn't immediately be determined. They came in the midst of the firings by President Trump of several National Security Council officials following a meeting that the right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer had with the president in which she alleged that some members of his administration weren't aligned with his priorities.

Haugh had been serving as the chief of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command for nearly a year, taking over for Gen. Paul Nakasone.

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, confirmed in a statement Haugh's firing.

"General Haugh has served our country in uniform, with honor and distinction, for more than 30 years," Warner said. "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," Warner said, referring to the widespread compromise of U.S. telecommunications networks by Beijing-backed hackers.

Updates to follow as news develops.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 03, 2025 23:16 ET (03:16 GMT)

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