Dissecting the 2017 National Security Strategy: Implications for Senior Administrators (the Devil in the Details)
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12542 |
| Published date | 01 May 2018 |
| Date | 01 May 2018 |
| Author | John M. Weaver |
Dissecting the 2017 National Security Strategy:
Implications for Senior Administrators
(the Devil in the Details)
John M. Weaver
York College of Pennsylvania
Abstract
On 18 December 2017 President Trump released his National Security Strategy (NSS). It is the quintessential document that
will serve as the azimuth for key government leaders to guide them through the execution of core functions at federal depart-
ments and agencies in the months and years to come. At 55 pages, it outlines key issues that he and by extension, his
National Security Council, see as of paramount concern for the United States. Broadly, Trump looks to: (1) protect the home-
land; (2) promote US prosperity; (3) leveraging strength to preserve peace; and (4) advance US influence in the world (NSS,
2017, p. 4).
The federal organizations most affected by this strategy
include the likes of the departments of State (DOS), Defense
(DOD), and Homeland Security (DHS). Historically, these
three have developed strategies of their own that comport
with and lend support to the NSS. More pointedly, one can
reference past iterations of the Defense Strategic Guidance
and National Military Strategies of the Defense Department,
the Department of State and USAID Strategic Plan, and the
Department of Homeland Security Strategic Plan and see
linkages to past versions of the NSS. Now that Trump has
released his strategy, the departments will have to get to
work to implement their plans. These in turn serve two pur-
poses. First, they serve as marching orders for these behe-
moth actors, and secondly are used to help set priorities
when preparing budget requests and executions.
So what are the implications for the triad of federal
departments? President Trump has used three of the four
instruments of national power (diplomacy, military, and eco-
nomic; information is excluded) to outline the direction
(Weaver, 2015).
The homeland
First and foremost, the president identifies key threats to
the United States and these include North Korea and its pur-
suit of weapons of mass destruction capable of reaching the
United States (Wright, 2009). Other threats include Iran’s
support of terror groups, jihadist terror organizations whose
ideology is directed against the American people, and cyber
threats (NSS, 2017). Moreover, the NSS addresses six priority
risks and these include national security, energy, finance
and banking, safety and health, communications, and trans-
portation (NSS, 2017). There are implications for all three
departments. DHS will have to invest in infrastructure
protection and hardening of key targets to make them less
susceptible to physical attacks especially air and seaports,
railways and roads, the telecommunications industry, and
transit systems (NSS, 2017). Other measures include sealing
off porous entry points into the United States to include the
creation of a wall and vetting those seeking entry to the
United States (NSS, 2017). DHS will also be critical in work-
ing with state and local governments to identify cyber
threats and to help ensure resiliency of networks to expo-
sure from state and non-state nefarious types alike espe-
cially for communications networks, the financial and
banking sector, transportation, and the health sector.
DOS will have to maintain strong diplomatic relations
with China, South Korea, and Japan to show regional resolve
regarding North Korea to help protect the homeland and
will also be instrumental in garnering support among the
four other permanent members of the United Nations Secu-
rity Council in seeking to castigate Kim Jong-un’s regime.
DOD will be involved in implementing a missile defense sys-
tem and will be called to pursue transnational terror threats
at their source (NSS, 2017). DOS, DOD, and DHS will also be
instrumental in working with state and local governments to
identify cyber threats and to help ensure resiliency of net-
works to exposure from state and non-state nefarious types
alike and to share information with key allies throughout
the world (NSS, 2017).
Prosperity
The departments of State and Defense will have their work
cut out for them regarding the promotion of American pros-
perity. The State Department will have the lead in negotiat-
ing trade agreements favorable to the United States; at a
time when US growth has been a averaging a paltry 2%
Global Policy (2018) 9:2 doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.12542 ©2018 University of Durham and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global Policy Volume 9 . Issue 2 . May 2018 283
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