PNSR is working to design a National Security Staff that meets 21st century demands. This program explores the major challenges facing the National Security Staff and offers recommendations.  

The staff is almost focused exclusively on immediate policy formulation while jumping from crisis to crisis, and the daily inbox driven by the 24-hour news cycle.  Presidents sometimes begin their terms expressing a desire for a smaller National Security Council staff but most often end up with larger staff.  It has a very narrow capacity for integrating the government to deal with the national security challenges of the 21st century.  All these challenges impair the performance of the National Security Staff as the primary integrator of national security. This program proposes a new vision of the National Security Staff to excel in the 21st century.

Thus far, PNSR has produced a paper that focuses on a new set of roles for the Staff:  strategic management, interagency system development, crisis management, and staffing the president.  The document further outlines a vision for the White House staff to take on the role of strategic management of the national security system.  

The most enduring elements of national security reform will begin at the White House and then spread throughout the government.  Achieving these reforms starts with the socialization of respected thought-leaders and the experienced hands in the National Security Staff and the White House.  Once socialization is achieved, PNSR and its partners will then recommend steps to address the challenges facing the National Security Staff in the 21st century.  The program involves former and current officials in the National Security Staff, as well as experts in national security strategic leadership.