National Security Council officials working on Ukraine are reportedly ‘feeling really down’

It’s apparently not the best time to be working on Europe for the National Security Council, Politico reports.

Things are generally pretty hectic at the NSC right now, thanks to a leadership transition and reports that Trump plans to cut the council’s staff. The pressure, however, mostly seems to stem from President Trump’s impeachment inquiry which is looming over the council and reportedly affecting day-to-day work. Politico reports that the inquiry is “the elephant in the room and no one talks about it.” It’s been especially tough for officials — career staffers in particular — who deal with Ukraine and Europe, more broadly.

The impeachment inquiry revolves around Trump’s communications with Ukraine’s government, and the NSC officials have been accused of trying to keep those conversations under wraps, which means the council is now under a lot of scrutiny across the political spectrum. And that hasn’t been good for workplace morale.

“The people in the Ukraine section are feeling really down,” a former NSC official told Politico. “Their type of work in the background, behind the scenes, is being exposed to the world. Their professionalism is getting politicized.”

There are also reportedly some worries that the council won’t get much done in the coming weeks as this all plays out. “There are concerns, or maybe even more than just concern, that we’re going to reach a state of paralysis now on national security issues and policy issues,” another former NSC official said. Read more at Politico.

National Security Council officials working on Ukraine are reportedly ‘feeling really down’