WASHINGTON — The top US counterterrorism official is leaving the federal government at the end of the year, National Intelligence Director Dan Coats said Wednesday.

When President Trump took office in January, administration officials asked Nick Rasmussen to stay on as director of the National Counterterrorism Center through the transition. More recently, Rasmussen decided to end his 27 years of government service, including three years as director of the center and more than two years as deputy director.

Russ Travers, the deputy director of the counterterrorism center, will be acting chief until Trump nominates a successor. Rasmussen has not publicly disclosed his future plans.

associated press