Reforming the National Security Council

In recent years, there has been increasing bipartisan concern over the size and the role of the President's National Security Council. Its traditional role of "honest broker" has evolved to a policy-making role. It has even undertaken secret diplomatic negotiations and that has been done outside of Congress' view. Indeed, one observer recently wrote, "The national security advisor and his or her staff remain among the most influential entities in the Federal bureaucracy that are not subject to direct congressional oversight." Concerns about the NSC have reached new heights, leading to proposals before Congress to restrict the size of the NSC staff. NSC staff has increased from 100 persons at the start of President George Bush's presidency to reportedly over 400 people today. Such a large staff sends the message that the President intends to run foreign policy and military operations out of the White House to the exclusion of the cabinet. Former Defense Secretary Gates complained that the "micromanagement" of the Obama White House "drove me crazy." A smaller staff would more likely empower cabinet secretaries to do what they have been selected and confirmed by the Senate to do, and that is to run their departments.