| Print this article The National Security Agency is “moving forward” with the installation of Michael Ellis as general counsel despite opposition from Democrats and reported pushback from the NSA director, Gen. Paul Nakasone, following the Trump administration attorney’s selection for the national security post in November. Ellis, former counsel to Rep. Devin Nunes when the California Republican led the House Intelligence Committee, wasnamed the NSA’s chief lawyer just weeks after President-elect Joe Biden defeated President Trump. Previously, Ellis served under National Security Council legal adviser John Eisenberg during the Ukraine impeachment fight and worked as the NSC’s senior director for intelligence programs. Ellis joined the NSA amid a Pentagon shake-up when Trump fired former Pentagon leader Mark Esper and picked former National Counterterrorism Center Director Christopher Miller to take over.