Washington’s Expert Community Faces Unprecedented Decline Amid Policy Shifts

In today’s Washington, being an expert has become one of the most precarious roles.

The once vibrant offices of specialists at the National Security Council, located just across West Executive Avenue from the White House, now stand largely empty. This reduction highlights an administration less inclined to consider the policy options developed by seasoned experts—many hailing from the State Department or the C.I.A.—who traditionally worked late into the night refining responses to both immediate and longstanding crises.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently explained to the press that the previous organizational structure did not align with President Trump’s 'top-down' approach, which prioritizes executing the president’s decisions over collaborative policy development.

At the Pentagon, 14 advisory boards have been disbanded, with brief thank-you notes sent to members from both political parties. While some of these boards addressed niche issues, others focused on critical matters such as reevaluating the U.S. nuclear arsenal in response to China’s expanding nuclear capabilities, Vladimir Putin’s occasional nuclear threats, and President Trump’s ambitious plans for a 'Golden Dome' missile defense system—factors that have transformed nuclear strategy considerations.

Additionally, the panel of experts investigating the significant Chinese cyber intrusion into U.S. telecommunications networks—an issue that remains unresolved—has been disbanded. Similar cuts affected historians at the State Department and climate scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which houses specialists in weather, oceanography, climate, and biodiversity.

The National Weather Service experienced such significant staffing losses that it had to rehire personnel to maintain operations. Meanwhile, researchers dependent on the National Science Foundation are witnessing the gradual disappearance of funded projects.