Obama merges WH homeland staff with NSC

WASHINGTON, May 26 (UPI) -- White House staff focusing on homeland security and counter-terrorism will be combined with the National Security Council, U.S. President Obama said Tuesday.

The decision came after a nearly three-month examination on how the White House should be organized to handle issues of homeland security and counter-terrorism, Obama said in a statement.

"The new National Security Staff will support all White House policymaking activities related to international, transnational and homeland security matters," Obama said.

He said the Homeland Security Council will act as the main site for interagency debate on issues affecting homeland security such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, natural disasters, and pandemics.

New directorates and positions within the National Security Staff will be established to deal with new and emerging challenges associated with issues such as cybersecurity, weapons of mass destruction and trans-border security, he said.

Obama said he would keep the assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism as his main White House adviser on homeland and national security matters.

"The security of our homeland is of paramount importance to me, and I will not allow organizational impediments to stand in the way of timely action that ensures the safety of our citizens," he said.

A new Global Engagement Directorate will be created "to drive comprehensive engagement policies" with the international community on U.S. homeland and national security objectives.

"The United States faces a wide array of challenges to its security, and the White House must be organized to effectively and efficiently leverage the tremendous talent and expertise of the dedicated Americans who work within it," Obama said.