Michael Needham, a long-serving adviser to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is moving from a senior position at the State Department to the National Security Council, empowering one of Rubio’s most trusted aides to influence policy across the federal government.
By Adam Taylor, John Hudson, Ellen Nakashima, The Washington PostFrom left, Michael Needham, counselor for the U.S. Dept. of State, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz , Secretary of State Marco Rubio , U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh Moawad, and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter pose for a photo before a meeting at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Mike Needham, a long-serving adviser to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is moving from a senior position at the State Department to the National Security Council, in a move that empowers one of Rubio’s most trusted aides to influence policy across the federal government. Needham, who currently serves as both State Department counselor and head of its office of policy planning, is being promoted to assistant to President Donald Trump and deputy national security adviser, according to three U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel changes.
Rubio serves as acting national security adviser in addition to his role leading the State Department. Needham will be replaced in his roles at the State Department by Dan Holler, another veteran Rubio ally who will take over the counselor and policy planning roles. Holler is currently State Department chief of staff.
He will be replaced in that position by Matt Rhodes, a former vice president at Goldman Sachs who had been serving as chief of staff to Needham in the counselor’s office. His NSC appointment comes after last week’s departure of Robert Gabriel, who previously served as deputy national security adviser. Gabriel had been sharing that position with Andy Baker, a foreign policy adviser to Vice President JD Vance.
Baker will continue in his role and work with Needham, one of the U.S. officials said. Needham has emerged as a powerful figure in the State Department, taking on key roles in talks over Greenland and Lebanon. He often served as a key interlocutor for foreign nations seeking to navigate the Trump administration at a time when career diplomats struggled to be included in the policymaking process.
Needham has also overseen some of Rubio’s most sensitive policy decisions, including layoffs at the State Department, which were hailed by conservatives but unpopular among the department’s Foreign Service officers. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the elevation of a close Rubio aide to the White House was a net benefit for the Trump administration.
‘We now have an NSC and State Department that are totally in sync, a goal that has eluded past administrations for decades. Thanks to our historic reforms, we also have a department that is actually solving problems - from advancing peace, securing supply chains, and combating transnational terrorist organizations.
’ Needham was a newcomer to U.S. diplomacy before the second Trump administration, having started his career in domestic politics as the head of Heritage Action for America, an advocacy group linked to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. He later served as chief of staff for Rubio’s congressional office, during which time the senator from Florida served as a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Since Rubio took over as national security adviser, Needham has been a frequent presence at the White House, juggling duties at both the NSC and Foggy Bottom. Rubio’s predecessor as national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was pushed out amid missteps and appointed U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Rubio oversaw a significant downsizing of the NSC shortly afterward, ousting scores of staffers in a move that experts saw as consolidating control of foreign policy.
Despite his role at the State Department, Rubio spends most of his days at the White House, according to U.S. officials
National Security Council State Department Marco Rubio National Security Adviser Foreign Policy Adviser Career Diplomats Greenland Lebanon Layoffs Conservatives Foreign Service Officers Heritage Foundation Heritage Action For America Advocacy Group Conservative Think Tank Domestic Politics Senate Foreign Relations Committee Rubio's Congressional Office NSC Appointment Personnel Changes State Department Spokesperson U.S. Officials Consolidating Control Of Foreign Policy NSC Downsizing Rubio's Days At The White House Rubio's Predecessor As National Security Advis Mike Waltz U.S. Ambassador To The United Nations U.S. Ambassador To Lebanon Lebanese Ambassador To The U.S. Israeli Ambassador To The U.S.
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