President Trump speaks about the U.S. response to Iranian missile strikes at a news conference with Vice President Pence, right, and Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper. (Michael Reynolds/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
The conflict between Iran and the United States appears to be de-escalating, with attention turning to how President Trump made the decision to kill Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani.
Because of the administration’s heavy turnover, many in Trump’s circle of national security advisers assumed their roles within the past year.
Some key positions are filled only in an acting capacity, including the director of national intelligence and secretary of homeland security, which both require Senate confirmation to fill permanently.
Presidents typically assemble a “war cabinet,” similar to the National Security Council, to respond to crises. President George W. Bush called together such a group in the days following 9/11.
So who might be advising Trump? Most of the positions on the chart below are the ones that Bush called upon for his own war cabinet. He included roles like press secretary and attorney general that don’t necessarily require national security experience but can still be critical during times of conflict. (The Department of Homeland Security — created in response to the attacks — did not exist at the time, but its secretary is included here.)
When Trump’s national security officials started their jobs
President Trump has been in office for almost three years. As of Jan. 9, more than half of his key national security officials have been in their jobs for less than half that time.
Secretary of homeland security Chad F. Wolf (Acting)
TRUMP’S FIRST YEAR
SECOND YEAR
THIRD YEAR
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley
National security adviser Robert C. O’Brien
Director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire (Acting)
Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper
Homeland security adviser Peter Brown
Press secretary Stephanie Grisham
Attorney General William P. Barr
Chief of staff Mick Mulvaney (Acting)
Only a third of them have been in their roles for more than half of Trump’s time in office.
CIA Director Gina Haspel
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
Vice President Mike Pence
President Trump has been in office for almost three years. As of Jan. 9, more than half of his key national security officials have been in their jobs for less than half that time.
Secretary of homeland security Chad F. Wolf (Acting)
TRUMP’S FIRST YEAR
SECOND YEAR
THIRD YEAR
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley
National security adviser Robert C. O’Brien
Director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire (Acting)
Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper
Homeland security adviser Peter Brown
Press secretary Stephanie Grisham
Attorney General William P. Barr
Chief of staff Mick Mulvaney (Acting)
Only a third of them have been in their roles for more than half of Trump’s time in office.
CIA Director Gina Haspel
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
Vice President Mike Pence
President Trump has been in office for almost three years. As of Jan. 9, more than half of his key national security officials have been in their jobs for less than half that time.
Secretary of homeland security Chad F. Wolf (Acting)
THIRD YEAR
TRUMP’S FIRST YEAR
SECOND YEAR
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley
National security adviser Robert C. O’Brien
Director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire (Acting)
Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper
Homeland security adviser Peter Brown
Press secretary Stephanie Grisham
Attorney General William P. Barr
Chief of staff Mick Mulvaney (Acting)
Only a third of them have been in their roles for more than half of Trump’s time in office.
CIA Director Gina Haspel
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
Vice President Mike Pence
Among the newest officials: acting homeland security secretary Chad F. Wolf, who stepped into that role in mid-November; national security adviser Robert C. O’Brien, who started in September; and Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence since mid-August.
[Database: Which key positions in government Trump has not filled]
