White House deputy national security adviser Andy Baker is departing the administration in the coming weeks, adding to a wave of turnover within President Trump's national security team. Baker, who also served as Vice President Vance's top national security aide, was part of the U.S. delegation that held the first face-to-face talks with Iran in Pakistan earlier this year.
In a statement to Axios, which first reported the news, Baker said: "This has been an amazing journey. I'm proud of everything we've achieved and, of course, am incredibly grateful to the President, Vice President, and Secretary Rubio."
Vance praised Baker as an "exceptionally gifted, deeply thoughtful" adviser, adding: "He has been an indispensable member of our administration's national security team. For the over three years that Andy has been by my side, I've always valued his counsel and have been grateful for the difficult work he's done."
Baker is moving to the private sector to work with Robert O'Brien, who served as Trump's national security adviser during his first term. According to Axios and The Washington Post, Baker will join O'Brien's consulting firm, America Global Strategies.
A former State Department Foreign Service officer, Baker joined Vance's Senate office in 2023 as a national security adviser before following him to the White House. Known for a relatively low public profile, Baker pushed for a more restrained U.S. foreign policy and questioned prolonged American involvement in overseas conflicts. He also played a major role in crafting the administration's National Security Strategy, as reported by Politico.
His departure comes amid broader changes in the White House's national security operations. Cliff Sims took over as Vance's national security adviser earlier this summer, a role Baker previously held. Mike Needham, a longtime ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, joined the White House in May as a deputy national security adviser. Needham told Axios that Baker was "a brilliant foreign policy mind and close friend."
Baker stayed at the White House several months longer than initially planned to help Sims and Needham transition into their roles. Other National Security Council (NSC) officials have also left in recent months, including top officials overseeing Europe and Latin America in June. Trump slashed half of the NSC staff last year as part of a restructuring process.
Rubio has led the NSC while also serving as secretary of State after Trump named him national security adviser in May 2025, following the departure of Mike Waltz. Rubio told Axios that Baker has been "an invaluable asset and key member of the President's national security team who has greatly advanced the America First agenda."
Baker's exit is the latest sign of ongoing churn in the administration's foreign policy ranks, as it continues to navigate high-stakes issues like the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz and other global flashpoints.
