President Donald Trump is shaking up the National Security Council (NSA), headed up by retired general Michale Flynn, in dumping the Director of National Intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Shockingly, President Trump has essentially replaced the two heads with Steve Bannon, the former executive chair of Breitbart News and now Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to Trump. The move has sent shockwaves throughout Washington and is a signal of a deep distrust of the NSA bureaucracy on the part of Trump, and presumably Gen.

Flynn. The Director of National Intelligence and the chair of the Joint Chiefs will participate in a limited role, only "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed."

Steve Bannon elevated at National Security Council; Joint Chiefs dumped

In Steve Bannon, Trump has an ear he trusts inside the regular principals' meetings held by the NSA. It also means that Mr. Bannon will have more access and exercise greater influence on issues of national security. In many presidential administrations, the NSA has more direct influence over national security than even the Secretary of the Department of Defense. It was Bannon that overruled Homeland Security on the issue of "green cards" in Trump's controversial executive order banning Muslims from U.S.

shores.

Bannon has been controversial with his media should "keep its mouth shut" crack. During an interview on ABC's "This Week" hosted by Martha Raddatz, White House press secretary Sean Spicer defended the move.

Mr. Spicer cited Bannon's experience as a naval officer and stated that the move would streamline the decision-making process in the White House. He also said having Bannon in those meetings is "crucial."

McCain, Gates don't like it one bit

Republican Sen.

John McCain (R-AZ), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, does not like the idea of the chair of the Joint Chiefs being shut out of the process on national security issues. He labeled the role of the Joint Chiefs as "indispensable." A man that served under President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, Robert Gates, also was critical of the move. The former Defense Secretary under two administrations said on the same show that the move was a "big mistake."

Former security adviser to Obama 'appalled'

Former UN ambassador and national security adviser Susan Rice (under President Obama) is appalled at the move.

Late Saturday night Susan Rice tweeted from her account that the action taken by Trump is “stone cold crazy.”
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