Trump transition team shake up: Mike Rogers steps down as national security advisor

Former Congressman Mike Rogers announced on Tuesday (15 November) that he is to leave US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team. The Michigan Republican served as a national security adviser to Trump and has reportedly been forced off the transition team.

"My team and I are pleased to hand off our work to my friend and former colleague, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, Executive Director Rick Dearborn, the Trump family and the stellar new leadership team," Rogers said in a statement.

According to CBS News, a Republican member of the national security establishment said Rogers' close relationship to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was the reason he was forced out.

Christie was initially in charge of the transition team before he was demoted to vice chair.

The source added that Rogers' investigation of Benghazi and Hillary Clinton, which concluded she had done nothing wrong, was also held against him.

Rogers' resignation may concern GOP officials, particularly because Trump lacks foreign policy experience and knowledge. In his statement, Rogers said his work has laid the groundwork for the post-election phase of Trump's administration.

"It was a privilege to prepare and advise the policy, personnel and agency action teams on all aspects of the national security portfolio during the initial pre-election planning phase," Rogers said.

"Our work will provide a strong foundation for the new transition team leadership as they move into the post-election phase, which naturally is incorporating the campaign team in New York who drove President-elect Trump to an incredible victory last Tuesday."

According to Bloomberg Politics, Rogers joined the House of Representatives the same year as Pence and is said to be close to him.

Trump has already appointed RNC Chairman Reince Priebus as White House chief of staff and former Breitbart News chief Steve Bannon as chief strategist.

Kellyanne Conway, who managed Trump's campaign, said additional appointments could be announced this week.