It emerged late last week that McMaster’s replacement, John Bolton, would bring in Mira Ricardel as his deputy.

Separately, Ezra Cohen-Watnick, who was ousted from the National Security Council staff by McMaster in August, has returned to the administration, this time at the Department of Justice.

Two sources told The Hill that Ricardel had clashed with Secretary of Defense James Mattis during her tenure in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.

“Ricardel was controversial for one reason — she was insistent on putting Trump people into the Pentagon,” said one Republican operative with knowledge of these dynamics.