President-elect Donald Trump is in the process of assembling his National Security Council, bringing on board several officials from his previous term.
Among the new appointees are Brian McCormack, a veteran energy consultant, and Andrew Peek, a seasoned Middle East adviser. These appointments suggest a renewed focus on Iran and an emphasis on bolstering domestic energy production.
According to CBS News, the National Security Council (NSC) is an advisory body composed of regional and subject-matter experts who assist in coordinating domestic and foreign policy. The NSC's executive secretary will be Catherine Keller, a former deputy general counsel at the Commerce Department and deputy White House staff secretary during Trump's initial term.
In the aftermath of the election, Trump appointed Florida Republican Congressman Mike Waltz as his national security adviser. Waltz's chief of staff, Micah Ketchel, will serve as senior adviser and a special assistant to the president. Ketchel's past experience includes roles at the Republican Attorneys General Association and the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Peek, a former Army intelligence officer and Waltz's congressional national security adviser, served as a deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq and Iran during Trump's first term. Despite being removed from the NSC during a security investigation in 2020, Peek retained his security clearance as the allegations were found to be baseless. Peek, who holds a PhD in Russian and Iranian proxy warfare, later served as the NSC's senior director for Europe.
McCormack, known for his extensive knowledge of energy policy, has previously worked as a top aide in the Energy Department for then-Secretary Rick Perry and later at the Office of Management and Budget. He co-founded an organization advocating for nuclear power, including its military applications. McCormack was among several aides who chose not to participate in the U.S. House hearings on Ukraine during the 2019 impeachment proceedings against Trump.
Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump's transition team, will serve as deputy national security adviser for strategic communications. James Hewitt, Waltz's congressional communications director, will take on a communications role at Trump's new NSC.
In a statement released in November, the president-elect announced that Alex Wong, a longtime Asia adviser, will be deputy national security adviser, and Sebastian Gorka will serve as the NSC's senior director for counterterrorism.
The composition of the NSC often changes with the arrival of a new president. President Joe Biden's NSC has grown to over 300 members, following Trump's efforts to reduce the group's size during his first term. This move aligns with the conservative principle of limited government, emphasizing efficiency and effectiveness over size and bureaucracy.
Login