who is national security council lead attorney

by Dudley Sawayn 4 min read

Who is the National Security Council Chairperson?

The Biden-Harris NSC recognizes and reflects this reality. The NSC is chaired by the President.

Who selects the general counsel of the National Security Agency?

Jul 03, 2021 · July 03, 2021 Biden Nominates National Security Council Lawyer To Arms Control Post U.S. President Joe Biden (file photo) President Joe Biden said on July 2 that he planned to nominate Mallory...

Who is the military advisor to the National Security Council?

Jan 18, 2021 · (CNN) The National Security Agency said Sunday it was installing Trump National Security Council staffer Michael Ellis as its general counsel, after acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller...

What is the National Security Council and what does it do?

Deputy Director, National Security Agency VIEW BIO. Douglas S. Coppinger Brigadier General, USAF, Deputy Chief, Central Security Service VIEW BIO. Marlisa L. Smith Chief of Staff, National Security Agency VIEW BIO. Sheryl D. Lyon

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What is the role of the National Security Council?

Since its inception in 1947 under Harry S. Truman, the function of the Council has been to advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies. The Council also serves as the President's principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government agencies.

What is the National Security Council Deputies Committee?

The National Security Council Deputies Committee is the senior sub-Cabinet interagency forum for consideration of national security policy issues. The Deputies Committee is also responsible for reviewing and monitoring the interagency national security process including for establishing and directing the Policy Coordination Committees. The Deputies Committee is convened and chaired by the Deputy National Security Advisor or the Deputy Homeland Security Advisor.

What is the principals committee?

The Principals Committee of the National Security Council is the Cabinet-level senior interagency forum for consideration of national security policy issues. The Principals Committee is convened and chaired by the National Security Advisor. The regular attendees of the Principals Committee are the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the White House Chief of Staff, the Director of National Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Homeland Security Advisor, and the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.

Why was the National Security Council created?

It was created because policymakers felt that the diplomacy of the State Department was no longer adequate to contain the Soviet Union, in light of the tension between the Soviet Union and the United States. The intent was to ensure coordination ...

When did the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council merge?

On May 26, 2009, President Barack Obama merged the White House staff supporting the Homeland Security Council (HSC) and the National Security Council into one National Security Staff (NSS). The HSC and NSC each continue to exist by statute as bodies supporting the President. The name of the staff organization was changed back to National Security Council Staff in 2014.

When was the NSC meeting?

National Security Council Website. U.S. President George W. Bush during the National Security Council Meeting (NSC) at the White House Situation Room, March 21, 2003.

When did Trump restructure the National Security Council?

On January 29, 2017 , President Donald Trump restructured the Principals Committee (a subset of the full National Security Council), while at the same time altering the attendance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Director of National Intelligence.

Who will be the secretary of state for arms control in 2021?

July 03, 2021 07:23 GMT. U.S. President Joe Biden (file photo) President Joe Biden said on July 2 that he planned to nominate Mallory Stewart to be assistant secretary of state for arms control, a position that in the past has played a central role in negotiating treaties such as New START.

Who is the head of the State Department's Bureau of Arms Control?

If confirmed by the Senate, Stewart would lead the State Department's bureau of arms control, verification, and compliance, the White House said in a statement. Stewart, a lawyer, is currently a senior director on the White House National Security Council.

Who is the lawyer for the NSC?

Ellis will start in his new role on Tuesday, according to a source familiar. Ellis, who was a lawyer for the NSC, had been named to the position in November, but the NSA had yet to move him into the role.

Who was the acting defense secretary after the election?

The Washington Post and CNN reported Saturday that Miller, who was installed as acting defense secretary as part of a purge of agencies after the election, had ordered Nakasone to install him into the position, giving him a Saturday evening deadline.

Who is Susan Hennessey?

CNN has been unable to reach Ellis for comment. Susan Hennessey, a former NSA attorney and CNN legal and national security analyst, ripped the decision to install Ellis in the Trump administration's last weekend in power.

Who is Devin Nunes' lawyer?

Before joining the Trump administration, Ellis served as the head counsel to California Rep. Devin Nunes, one of Trump's staunchest supporters. Ellis then became a lawyer with the NSC, refusing to testify as part of the House's 2019 impeachment inquiry.

Is the NSA a Senate position?

The general counsel of the NSA is not a Senate-confirmed position, Hennessey explained on her Lawfare blog, which removes a step of Congressional oversight that exists for roles such as general counsel of the CIA, Pentagon, or Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Who is the NSC?

Created in 1947 at the onset of the Cold War, the NSC is chaired by the president and is often attended by the vice president, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of Defense and a host of other senior officials. Under law, the NSC coordinates issues of national security and foreign policy among the key national security departments and agencies, including State, Defense, Homeland Security, and the CIA.

What is the role of the NSA?

Responsibilities. Called the “the best foreign policy job in government,” the NSA serves as the top aide to the president on national security and foreign policy. The NSA is generally a low-profile, high-influence position that plays a foundational role in the National Security Council (NSC). Created in 1947 at the onset ...

Who is the senior director of global health security and biodefense?

This includes the appointment of Elizabeth Cameron as senior director for global health security and biodefense. Cameron, who has a Ph.D. in biology, was a co-author of the “pandemic playbook” from the Obama administration that was reportedly ignored by the Trump administration with the outbreak of COVID-19.

Who is the NSC spokesperson?

Biden’s picks to lead the council's communications department include Emily Horne as NSC spokesperson and senior director for press. She most recently was vice president of communications at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and was a volunteer on the transition team leading communications for several national security Cabinet nominees.

How many appointments did Biden make to the NSC?

Biden fills out his national security team with nearly two dozen appointments. on Friday announced nearly two dozen appointments to his incoming National Security Council (NSC), filling out his staff with less than two weeks to go before his inauguration. The appointees are largely veterans of the Obama administration, ...

Who is Carlyn Reichel?

She most recently was vice president of communications at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and was a volunteer on the transition team leading communications for several national security Cabinet nominees. Carlyn Reichel will be senior director for speechwriting and strategic initiatives. She was director of speech writing and foreign ...

Who is Peter Harrell?

Peter Harrell will be senior director for international economics and competitiveness. He was serving on the Biden transition team’s agency review for the State Department. Previously he was an adjunct senior fellow with the Washington-based think tank Center for a New American Security and a lawyer in private practice.

Who is Caitlin Durkovich?

Caitlin Durkovich will be senior director for resilience and response. She most recently was director at the strategic advisory firm Toffler Associates and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Who is the executive director of the transition team?

Yohannes Abraham, executive director of the transition team, will serve as chief of staff and executive secretary.

Who is the senior director of the NSC?

In March 2020, Ellis became the senior director for intelligence on the NSC, joining other Trump loyalists in key intelligence positions. But the attempt to shift Ellis to the NSA is different, because the general counsel at the country's largest intelligence agency is a civil servant position, not a political appointee.

Who is Devin Nunes' lawyer?

Before joining the Trump administration, Ellis served as the head counsel to California Rep. Devin Nunes, one of Trump's staunchest supporters. Ellis then became a lawyer with the National Security Council, refusing to testify as part of the House's 2019 impeachment inquiry.

Is the NSA a Senate position?

The general counsel of the NSA is not a Senate-confirmed position, Hennessey explained on her Lawfare blog in November, which removes a step of Congressional oversight that exists for roles such as general counsel of the CIA, Pentagon, or Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Who is Vindman's lawyer?

Vindman's lawyer, David Pressman, described "a campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation" by the Trump administration as the reason for his client's retirement. In November 2020, Vindman joined the staff of the national security blog Lawfare with a fellowship of the Pritzker Military Foundation.

Who was the first White House official to testify?

Vindman was subpoenaed to testify before Congressional investigators on October 29, 2019, as part of the U.S. House of Representatives ' impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump. He is the first White House official to testify who was actually on a July 25, 2019, telephone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which Trump asked Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, who was campaigning for President. Based on his opening statement, obtained in advance by The New York Times, Vindman's testimony corroborates previous testimony from Fiona Hill, his former manager, and William B. Taylor Jr., acting Ambassador to Ukraine.

Who is Vindman's former manager?

Based on his opening statement, obtained in advance by The New York Times, Vindman's testimony corroborates previous testimony from Fiona Hill, his former manager, and William B. Taylor Jr., acting Ambassador to Ukraine.

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Overview

History

The immediate predecessor to the National Security Council was the National Intelligence Authority (NIA), which was established by President Harry S. Truman's Executive Letter of January 22, 1946, to oversee the Central Intelligence Group, the CIA's predecessor. The NIA was composed of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Chief of Staff to the Co…

Authority and powers

The National Security Council was established by the National Security Act of 1947 (PL 235 – 61 Stat. 496; U.S.C. 402), amended by the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (63 Stat. 579; 50 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). Later in 1949, as part of the Reorganization Plan, the Council was placed in the Executive Office of the President.
The High Value Detainee Interrogation Group also reports to the NSC.

Membership

The National Security Council, as of 2020 and as per statute and National Security Presidential Memorandum–4, is chaired by the President. Its members are the Vice President (statutory), the Secretary of State (statutory), the Secretary of Defense (statutory), the Secretary of Energy (statutory), the National Security Advisor (non-statutory), the Attorney General (non-statutory), the Secretary of Homeland Security (non-statutory), the Representative of the United States to the Un…

Key staff

• Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor: Jake Sullivan

• Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor: Jake Sullivan

See also

• Homeland Security Advisor
• Iran–Contra affair
• National Security Medal
• National Security Advisor
• National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection and Counter-Terrorism

Further reading

• Bahadir, Sanli. "Arzin Merkezine Seyahat: ABD Ulusal Güvenlik Konseyi" ["Journey to the Center of the World: U.S. National Security Council"]. Article on US NSC (in Turkish).
• Best, Richard A., Jr. "The National Security Council: An Organizational Assessment". (Congressional Research Service, 2009) online.

External links

• Official National Security Council website
• History of the NSC from the White House
• Records of the National Security Council (NSC) in the National Archives
• White House Office, National Security Council Staff Papers, 1948–1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library