What Even is the National Security Council?
by Whitney Ahn
The National Security Council, aka NSC, aka Principals Committee, was established right after WWII to ensure that every administration had access to a solid national security policy-making process. Until Trump, it included, among others the President, Vice President, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the National and Homeland Security Advisors, UN Ambassador, and Secretaries of State, Defense, the Treasury, Homeland Security, and Energy (there's a longer list on Wikipedia).
Donald Trump has decided to, for better or for worse, up-end this entire system by removing the DNI, former Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, and adding the Chief Strategist, Steve Bannon. This effectively removes the sole military and intelligence advisers from the NSC and replaces them with Steve Bannon.
Many Republican policymakers, notably including Sen. McCain, have criticized this move, saying that the move was confusing and unprecedented. In defense of Bannon's addition to the council, some have said that past people with Bannon's position, such as the Bush administration's Karl Rove and the Obama administration's David Axelrod, have attended the NSC. However, neither served in any official capacity on the NSC and both have stated that they were barred from entering any meeting regarding national security issues, to keep a chasm between politics and national security.
Some could argue, however, that both of the removed positions are rendered redundant by Trump's other administration picks. By selecting former DIA director Mike Flynn as his National Security Advisor, intelligence officials are represented. And, via Flynn and other former generals like Secretary Mattis and Secretary Kelly, some could even argue that the military realm is almost over-represented.
What do you think of the NSC changes? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below.
