Steve Bannon dropped from National Security Council in shakeup

US President Donald Trump reorganised his National Security Council (NSC) on Wednesday, removing chief strategist Stephen Bannon from a key committee and restoring the roles of top intelligence and defence officials, according to a person familiar with the decision and a notice published in the Federal Register.

Trump's elevation of Bannon, a former head of the right-wing website Breitbart, to a permanent spot on the NSC had been widely criticised as injecting politics into White House deliberations on sensitive defence, foreign policy, and intelligence matters.

A White House aide said the reshuffle was not a demotion for Bannon, adding that Bannon was only given a seat on the NSC to keep an eye on National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who was fired in February.

Bannon will retain his security clearance, an official said.

Nevertheless, his departure from the NSC role was applauded by some Republicans as well as Democrats. Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida called it “welcome news” in a tweet.

The NSC is the main group advising the president on national security and foreign affairs.