A Trump loyalist has been appointed as the top lawyer at the National Security Agency, a sign that the administration is trying to help its political appointees land career posts that they can stay in even after a new president is sworn in, American officials said. The appointee, Michael Ellis, had served as a National Security Council lawyer and most recently as its senior director for intelligence. Mr. Ellis was one of three finalists for the National Security Agency job. He was chosen by the general counsel for the Department of Defense, which the National Security Agency is a part of, after White House officials made clear that Mr. Ellis was their preferred candidate, according to a person briefed on the decision. The two other finalists were the current acting National Security Agency general counsel, Teisha M. Anthony, and the acting general counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Brad Brooker.

Source: New York Times November 10, 2020 13:41 UTC