CRS INSIGHT
Trump Administration Changes to the National
Security Council: Frequently Asked Questions
January 30, 2017 (IN10640)
|
s
Kathleen J. McInnis
John W. Rollins
|
Kathleen J. McInnis, Analyst in International Security (kmcinnis@crs.loc.gov, 7-1416)
John W. Rollins, Specialist in Terrorism and National Security (jrollins@crs.loc.gov, 7-5529)
On January 28, 2017, the Trump Administration issued National Security
Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) 2:
Organization of the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. The memorandum details how the
executive branch intends to manage and coordinate national and homeland security issues among relevant departments
and agencies. In keeping with the practices of prior administrations, the White House issued the memorandum early in
its tenure. Since the memorandum was signed, some media reports have incorrectly characterized the manner in which
the Trump administration appears to be organizing itself to manage national security matters. These FAQs are intended
to clarify the terms and structures associated with the National Security Council (NSC).
What is the National Security Council?
Since its inception in 1947, the National Security Council, and the institutions that support it, has evolved from a
statutorily-mandated meeting of cabinet-level officials into a complex system of coordination, adjudication, and in some
instances formulation (as in the case of Dr. Kissinger's tenure as National Security Advisor) of policies among relevant
departments and agencies. As a result, when individuals refer to the "NSC," they variously refer to the decisionmaking
body created in statute in the 1947 National Security Act, the staff that supports that decisionmaking body, or the
processes used by the White House to discuss and adjudicate decisions across different agencies of the executive
branch.
The National Security Council is the President's statutory advisory body on matters related to national and
international security. Pursuant to Title 50 U.S.C §3021, the NSC's statutory members are the President, Vice
President, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Energy. Other senior officials, including the
National Security Advisor, participate in NSC deliberations at the President's request. The Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence are the NSC's statutory advisers. The National Security
Council is chaired by the President.
The National Security Council Staff. The NSC's activities are coordinated and directed by the Presidentially-