NSC
Government & Politics abbreviation · US Federal Agency
| Stands for | National Security Council |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
NSC stands for National Security Council, a US federal agency abbreviation.
The President's principal forum for national security and foreign policy decisions, whose members include the Vice President and the Secretaries of State and Defense. A staff led by the National Security Advisor coordinates policy across agencies and prepares meetings.
Example: An NSC spokesperson said the President had been briefed on the missile launch overnight.
Usage notes
The National Security Act of 1947 created the NSC. In the 1980s the Iran-Contra affair, in which NSC staff members ran covert operations, prompted reforms limiting the staff to coordination. The size of the staff varies widely by administration and was significantly reduced in 2025.
Related abbreviations
More US federal agency abbreviations
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- NPS – National Park Service
- NRC – U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- NRCS – Natural Resources Conservation Service
- NRO – National Reconnaissance Office
- NSA – National Security Agency
- NSF – U.S. National Science Foundation
- NTIA – National Telecommunications and Information Administration
- NTSB – National Transportation Safety Board
- NWS – National Weather Service
- OCC – Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
- OCR – Office for Civil Rights