President Donald Trump reportedly removed his chief strategist, Steve Bannon, from the National Security Council on Wednesday as part of a broader reorganization of the NSC.
Trump has reorganized his principal forum to consider national security matters by removing his top strategist and downgrading Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert, according to Bloomberg, which obtained a presidential memorandum on the NSC shakeup.
Trump's national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, was given authority to set the agenda of the NSC.
The changes also allow the director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, to again be regular attendees of the NSC's principals committee.
Bannon was appointed to the NSC earlier this year as part of a reorganization that drew intense opposition from members of Congress and foreign policy experts.
One White House official told Bloomberg that Bannon was initially elevated to the NSC to keep an eye on former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, but never attended a meeting. Now with Flynn gone, Bannon is no longer needed, the official said.