Defense and national security

Executive Order 13657: Changing the Name of the National Security Staff to the National Security Council Staff

President: Barack Obama

Restored the name “National Security Council staff” and made conforming changes to earlier executive orders.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13657 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13657 remains an unrevoked naming directive, with no expiration date. The January 20, 2025 presidential memorandum organizing the National Security Council retains a single NSC staff serving both the national and homeland security councils; it does not revoke this naming order. Sources: Federal Register 2014 executive order disposition table, EO 13657; Signed Executive Order 13657; January 20, 2025 memorandum on National Security Council organization.

What does Executive Order 13657 do?

EO 13657 changed the organization’s name from National Security Staff back to National Security Council staff. It made technical substitutions in prior orders without changing the statutory National Security Council or independently expanding staff authority. Later presidential directives have repeatedly reorganized membership and internal processes, but the NSC staff name remains in official use.

Administration position: Renaming the staff did not create a new agency, change the statutory council’s membership or confer operational command over departments.
SignedFebruary 10, 2014
Former nameNational Security Staff
Restored nameNational Security Council staff

Before and after

Before the order

A 2009 merger used the name National Security Staff.

After the order

Official documents again referred to the National Security Council staff while later presidents adjusted its organization.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Executive Office of the PresidentUse the restored staff nameContinuing
NSC staffSupport presidential national-security decision-makingContinuing
AgenciesApply conforming references in affected ordersCompleted

What happened next

EO 13657 restored the NSC staff name.

The presidential memorandum on National Security Council organization retained a single NSC staff serving both the NSC and HSC. Official source.