Top White House National Security Official Heads For The Exit

August 14, 2026 1:16 PM ET White House deputy national security adviser Andy Baker is leaving the Trump administration, the Daily Caller confirmed. Baker, who has a young family and is set to leave the administration in the coming weeks, has stayed on longer than expected to help with White House staff transitions, a source close to Baker told the Caller. The deputy national security adviser has also served as National Security Adviser to Vice President JD Vance contemporaneously. Notably, Mike Needham will be transitioning to deputy national security adviser and Cliff Sims to Vance’s national security adviser. Needham has effectively served in his role since this spring, and Cliff succeeded Baker earlier this summer, a source close to Baker told the Caller. “This has been an amazing journ