White House officials defended President Donald Trump’s move to give top political strategist Stephen Bannon a permanent spot on the National Security Council while limiting the role of the director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Others with permanent seats on the White House policy council include the secretary of state and secretary of defence. Both were permanent members under President Barack Obama, but had a similar ad hoc status under President George W. Bush. RelatedMichael Flynn, Trump’s national security adviser, resigned in 2014 from his job as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency amid pressure from James Clapper, who was director of national intelligence under Obama. Flynn also clashed with others in the Obama administration over his management style and priorities.

Source: National Post January 29, 2017 21:31 UTC