By Steve Berman
President Donald Trump reorganized his National Security Council on Wednesday, removing his chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, and downgrading the role of his Homeland Security Adviser, Tom Bossert, according to a person familiar with the decision and a regulatory filing.
National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster was given responsibility for setting the agenda for meetings of the NSC or the Homeland Security Council, and was authorized to delegate that authority to Bossert, at his discretion, according to the filing.
Under the move, the national intelligence director, Dan Coats, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, are again “regular attendees” of the NSC’s principals committee.
Good. Bannon was an unsettling presence at the NSC for many political watchers. His influence seems to have driven Trump further into hot water with his Russia connections and dealing with prolific leaking in the intelligence community.
With Flynn gone and Bannon outside the core group dealing with our intelligence and national security issues, the country is on surer footing. Maybe next they can get Trump to stop tweeting, but that’s wishful thinking.
