Head of National Security Agency and Cyber Command Is Ousted

The head of the National Security Agency and U.S.Cyber Command was removed from his job on Thursday, according to the top Democrats on the congressional intelligence committees.Senator Mark Warner of Virginia and Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut condemned the ouster of Gen.

Timothy D.Haugh, who led both the spy agency and the military command.The move caught intelligence officials off guard.A spokeswoman for Cyber Command said she could not confirm General Haugh’s removal, and referred questions to the Pentagon, which did not respond to a request for comment.

A White House spokeswoman did not confirm the ouster.But a U.S.official briefed on the matter said Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and outside adviser to President Trump, called for General Haugh’s removal during her Oval Office meeting on Thursday.

Mr.Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to fire General Haugh, the official said.General Haugh was also seen by the Trump administration as moving too slowly on its mandate to eliminate diversity programs.Mr.

Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the public was owed an explanation.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....