McMaster reverses Flynn’s move to keep NSC staff out during Trump’s foreign calls

President Trump’s new national security adviser has reversed his predecessor Michael Flynn’s decision to exclude senior National Security Council (NSC) officials from the Situation Room during state calls.

H.R. McMaster implemented the change this week by allowing senior officials to be present in the room during conversations with the leaders of Israel, Japan, South Korea and Kenya, Politico reported.

Under Flynn’s short tenure, the national security adviser and his deputy, David Cattler, were often the only NSC members present during such calls.

{mosads}NSC spokesman Michael Anton told Politico that the change was implemented after McMaster held a meeting with officials in which the staff expressed concerns with not being able to provide guidance to the president during his calls.

“That was a pretty consistent issue,” Anton said.

McMaster, who assumed the post following Flynn’s resignation, also reversed other policies of his predecessor, including his effort to streamline the NSC by eliminating two top positions.