"The newfound focus on the South American country and future uncertainty has raised questions about whether Rubio, a Venezuela hawk who also serves as the National Security Adviser, has too much influence. Rubio is the first person to hold both roles at the same time since Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the 1970s. But the White House says the old National Security Council structures were too bloated and are ultimately unsuited for how this administration does business."
"The president was elected by the American people to carry out his foreign policy agenda, and he ultimately decides, based on what he feels, is the best choice for the American people," said a White House official not authorized to speak on the record. John Bolton, who served as Trump's National Security Adviser in the first administration, says it's no knock on Rubio but "I'm not sure anybody, including Henry Kissinger, really has the bandwidth to do it."
Marco Rubio is scheduled to testify before lawmakers about Venezuela following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro. Rubio concurrently serves as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, a combination not held since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s. The dual role has prompted concerns about concentrated influence on Venezuela policy. The White House defends the arrangement as a streamlined, top-down decision process better suited to the administration's operations. John Bolton questioned whether anyone can effectively handle both roles. Critics note that slashing and reorganizing the National Security Council has disrupted traditional interagency coordination.
Read at www.npr.org
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