United States Domestic Policy Council

Last updated
Domestic Policy Council
Seal of the Executive Office of the President of the United States 2014.svg
Agency overview
FormedAugust 16, 1993
Jurisdiction Federal Government of the United States
Headquarters Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Employees25
Agency executive
Parent agency Office of White House Policy, Executive Office of the President of the United States
Website Official website

The Domestic Policy Council (DPC) is the principal forum used by the president of the United States for the consideration of domestic policy matters and senior policymaking, and includes Cabinet members and White House officials. The Council is part of the Office of Policy Development, which itself is within the Executive Office of the President of the United States.

Contents

Since the establishment of the Council in 1993, under the administration of President Bill Clinton, its purpose is to coordinate the domestic policy-making process; to coordinate domestic policy advice to the president; to ensure that domestic policy decisions and programs are consistent with the president’s stated goals, and to ensure that those goals are being effectively pursued; and to monitor implementation of the president’s domestic policy agenda.

The Domestic Policy Council differs from the National Economic Council, which is used to consider economic policy for the president. The Domestic Policy Council focuses on issues of domestic policy, which exclude economic policy matters. The Council is also the principal arm of the president when coordinating domestic policy measures throughout the executive branch.

The Domestic Policy Council is headed by the assistant to the president for domestic policy and director of the Domestic Policy Council. Since January 20, 2025, that position has been held by Vince Haley. [1]

History and mission

The Domestic Policy Council was established on August 16, 1993 by Executive Order 12859, under President Clinton. The first director of the Domestic Policy Council was Carol Rasco, who was appointed by Clinton in 1993. The council oversees development and implementation of the president’s domestic policy agenda and ensures coordination and communication among the heads of relevant Federal offices and agencies. [2]

Prior to the creation of the National Economic Council, economic policy staff had existed since the 1960s. President Lyndon Johnson assigned a senior aide to develop and organize domestic policy, of which economic policy was included. In 1970, President Richard Nixon issued an executive order which created the Office of Policy Development. President Clinton split the responsibilities of the Domestic Policy Council with the National Economic Council. [3] [4]

The Council is composed of various Cabinet officials, who advise the president on domestic policy issues and matters.

Assistants to the President for Domestic Policy

  Denotes acting capacity.
ImageNameStartEndPresident
Joseph-califano-85.jpg Joe Califano July 26, 1965January 20, 1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
(1963–1969)
DanielPatrickMoynihan.jpg Pat Moynihan
Urban Affairs
January 23, 1969November 4, 1969 Richard Nixon
(1969–1964)
Portrait of John D. Ehrlichman, assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs - NARA - 194629.tif John Ehrlichman November 4, 1969April 30, 1973
Melvin Laird, 1968.jpg Mel Laird May 1, 1973January 8, 1974
No image.svg Ken Cole January 8, 1974February 28, 1975
Gerald Ford
(1974–1977)
No image.svg James Cannon February 28, 1975January 20, 1977
Stuart eizenstat 8283.JPG Stu Eizenstat January 20, 1977January 20, 1981 Jimmy Carter
(1977–1981)
VacantJanuary 20, 1981June 20, 1985 Ronald Reagan
(1981–1989)
No image.svg Ralph Bledsoe June 20, 1985March 30, 1987
No image.svg Ken Cribb March 30, 1987December 2, 1987
David McIntosh on 8 February 1988 (cropped).jpg David McIntosh December 2, 1987September 8, 1988
No image.svg Dan Crippen September 8, 1988January 20, 1989
Reagan Contact Sheet C13960 (cropped).jpg Roger Porter January 20, 1989January 20, 1993 George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
No image.svg Carol Rasco January 20, 1993December 20, 1996 Bill Clinton
(1993–2001)
Bruce Reed-VPCOS.png Bruce Reed December 20, 1996January 20, 2001
John Bridgeland (6669064877).jpg John Bridgeland January 20, 2001January 30, 2002 George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
MargaretSpellings.jpg Margaret Spellings January 30, 2002January 5, 2005
Claudeallen.jpg Claude Allen January 5, 2005February 9, 2006
Karl Zinsmeister 2019 cc.jpeg Karl Zinsmeister May 24, 2006January 20, 2009
Melody Barnes official portrait.jpg Melody Barnes January 20, 2009January 10, 2012 Barack Obama
(2009–2017)
Cecilia Munoz.jpg Cecilia Muñoz January 10, 2012January 20, 2017
Andrew Bremberg (cropped).jpg Andrew Bremberg January 20, 2017February 2, 2019 Donald Trump
(2017–2021)
Joe Grogan.jpg Joe Grogan February 2, 2019May 24, 2020
Brooke Rollins (51248667684) (cropped).jpg Brooke Rollins
Acting
May 24, 2020January 20, 2021
Susan E. Rice, DPC Director (cropped 2).jpg Susan Rice January 20, 2021May 26, 2023 Joe Biden
(2021–2025)
Neera Tanden Cabinet (cropped).jpg Neera Tanden May 26, 2023January 20, 2025
Vince Haley Crop.png Vince Haley January 20, 2025Incumbent Donald Trump
(2025–present)

References

  1. "Domestic Policy Council". The White House. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  2. "Executive Order 12859 of August 16, 1993 "Establishment of the Domestic Policy Council"" (PDF).
  3. "Agency". www.usgovernmentmanual.gov. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  4. "Domestic Policy Council". The White House. Retrieved 2022-02-21.