(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP57-00384R001000030006-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2000
• Sequence Number: 6
• Content Type: SUMMARY

Approved For Release.2000/08/25 CIA-RDP57-00384F1000030006-4
The National Security Act of l9A7 (Public Law
25,3 -- 80th Congress) , the so-called "Ibolfication Act-",
took several steps forward in connection with the national
securi organization. It set up a new organization known
as the National Military Eatablient under a Secretary
of Defense. The old War and Navy Departments were re-
aced three Executive Departments Imown as the
is of the Army the Navy and the Air Force; all
d.ed by Secretaries of Cabinet rank.
Within the framework of the National Military
Establishment several groups which had existed as joint
boards were given legal status together with certain
additional groups which had not previously existed. These
new statutory organizations were the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
the War Council, the Munitions Board,, and the Research
& Development Board. Under the Joint Chiefs of Staff
which consisted of the Chiefs of Staff of the Ars r, t to
and the Air Force and the Chief of Staff to the
in Chief if there is one (Admiral I eahy has
Chief of Staff to the Winder in Chief),,
Wished a joint staff of 100 officers, to
roximately equally from the three Services.
of Defens to be assisted by three
to the Searetary, and these were set
a division, of labor rough 3s of legislative anti
administrative, budget and iscal; and politico-
itary duties, respectively.
in addition to the National Military Establish-
ment the Act set up a National Security Council to advise
the `resident on the integration of domestic, forei
and military policy. Under the direction of the National
Security Council, a Central Intelligence Agency was,
'e
to coordinate the foreign intelligence
activities of those departments and a ncies of the
Government concerned with the national security.
The Act also established a National Security
Resources Board to advise the President as to the coordina-
tion of military, industrial, and civilian mobilization.
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After a year's operation, the first Secretary
Mr. Porrestai and also the Hoover Comm iasics
tion of the Oovernmmt, came to note
,cieneies in the wow of this organization,
required drastic reawdy. The primary problem
position of the Secretary of Defense itself due
of clear-cut statutory authority in
o reach f irm decisions binding upon the three
Secondly, the problem of budgetary control
three Services was lacking to such a degree
impossible to ascertain exactly how much
spent on specific prr .
Security Act were therefore propos
eas, and were passed by the Sew
_ces Cc ittee in the House original reused
? accept these ndmcnts, the need for which been
high-154ghted by the unfortunate death of Secretary
Forrestal.. The House Armed Services Conmd.ttee however
reported out, and the House passed those ame~ts con-
ernin budget and fiscal procedures which subsequently
became Title 4 of Public Law 216 of the 81st Cargress,
the National Security Act Amendments of 1949. At the
t conference between the conferees of the Senate
use of Representatives, the re in.I g nc~ta
passed by the mate were restored to the
epted by the House, and the full measure
changes are worthy of note. The fi t;t
change in the composition of the Naticnal
Council. There had been some complaint that the
too heavily weighted by the military so the
ice Bocretaries were removed from the Council,
tm nt of Defense is represented only
of Defense. The Vice President has also
o the membership.
An acecutive Dopartt at the f rtm tit of
3e, was established under a Secretary of Defense
Departments of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Po
bwever,, were reduced from Executive Departments and
Cabinet rank to so-ca3.led military departments without
Cabinet r . The position. of Deputy Secretary of Defense
s also on bl.i along with Assistant Secretaries
of of y It bpi been found in the National Militargr
tabl.iallumt, particularly In relations with the Congress
sod other Depots, that the title of dial Assistant
the 8retary of Defense was not accorded the prestige
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The position of t air . of the Joint Chiefs
established, and the Joint Staff was In-
'10 officers. The re3ati r ips between the
of Defense and the *mitionz Board and the
ear i and Development Board received certain statutory
Is.
The acct anying chart of the o
Department of Defense dated 12 September l9' 9,
substantially correct. The only changeis the elm
tion of the sist?nt to the Secretary { :a1 Activities) .
Most of the work of this section comes w the Office
of Foreign Military Affairs which in turn comes under
the direction of the Species Consultant to the Secretary
of Defense on Politico- litary Affairs.
Approved For Release 2000/08/25: CIA-RDP57-00384R001000030006-4