- Trump’s interim defense secretary told the head of the National Security Agency to install a loyal to Trump as the agency’s top lawyer by 6pm Saturday.
- NSA director General Paul Nakasone did not respond to Christopher Miller’s request on time.
- Nakasone was not in favor of Ellis’ choice and is working to delay her placement.
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Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller told the head of the National Security Agency to install a loyal to Trump as the agency’s top lawyer, The Washington Post reported.
Miller ordered Michael Ellis to be appointed general counsel until 6 pm on Saturday, but NSA director General Paul Nakasone did not follow that order until the deadline, according to CNN.
The Post reported that Ellis was chosen for the position in November by Pentagon general counsel Paul C. Ney Jr., but he has not yet taken office and needs to complete administrative procedures.
His choice came shortly after Biden was designed to win the presidential election. At the same time, nearly a dozen senior government officials were fired, forced to resign or resign in protest, including a political purge in the Department of Defense by President Donald Trump.
Several sources told the Post that Nakasone was not in favor of choosing Ellis for the role and wanted to delay her placement.
The position of general counsel in the NSA is not political, but a civil servant, which means that it would be more difficult for the next Biden government to fire him.
Sources told the Post that Nakasone and others are concerned that the Trump administration is trying to put political personnel in a civilian role, which could violate a long-standing policy.
Legal experts on national security criticized the effort to put Ellis in office just days before Trump stepped down.
In November, when Ellis’ appointment was first announced, Susan Hennessey, a former NSA lawyer, said that “it appears to be an attempt to unduly politicize an important career position”.
On Saturday, Hennessy said that if Ellis is installed, Biden should remove him the day he takes office.
“At this point, no one should extend this selection process with the benefit of the doubt. Apparently, the Trump administrator is violating public service rules and politicizing an apolitical role. If Ellis is installed tonight, Biden should remove him. it on the first day, “she said in a tweet.