Limit NSC detailees to tighten presidential control of national security staff
Mandate notes NSC staff was cut from a peak of ~400 toward 100–150 professionals and says the next Administration should try to limit detailees to ensure more direct presidential control.
Mandate
Mandate Ch. 1 (White House Office) — National Security Council: special attention to use of detailees; recent rightsizing from a peak of 400 in 2015 down to 100–150 professional members; the next Administration should try to limit the number of detailees to ensure more direct presidential control.
Undo plan
1) Restore a professional NSC staffing model that includes agency detailees for expertise and continuity, with transparent ceilings—not loyalty-only hiring.
2) Protect career national-security expertise pathways; publish detailee vs political-staff ratios.
3) Insulate intelligence and military advice channels from political litmus tests while keeping statutory NSC members’ roles intact.
4) Codify minimum professional staffing for crisis response and continuity of government.
5) Verify: NSC headcount and detailee share; after-action reviews of crisis response capacity.