ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses restructuring the US government and marshalling its resources with the Department of Homeland Security assuming a leading role in policy formulation. The abundance of actors underscores a significant fact about national security policymaking in the US in the 21st century: its development requires the same level of organization, teamwork and discipline than in the past because national security will only become increasingly more technical and complex. The crucible of competing interests, agendas and requirements is where US national security policy is forged. Organizing and managing national security policy is an even more daunting administrative undertaking, having a continuing and powerful impact on the content of public policy and its effective implementation. The various histories and studies of the National Security Council indicate that the President’s usage of the system for developing and implementing policy is largely dependent on the President’s leadership style and personality.
