# National Economic Council (United States)

The National Economic Council (NEC) is the principal forum used by the president of the United States for the consideration of domestic and international economic policy matters with senior policymaking and Cabinet officials, and forms part of the Office of Policy Development which is within the Executive Office of the President of the United States.
Since the creation of the National Economic Council on January 25, 1993, its purpose is to coordinate domestic and international economic policy-making decisions; to advise the president on economic policy, with respect to domestic and international economic policy matters; to coordinate with various agencies across the federal government to establish consistent policy with the president's stated goals; and monitor the implementation of the economic agenda of the president.
The National Economic Council differs from the Domestic Policy Council, as it considers economic policy matters, while the Domestic Policy Council may consider anything which is related to domestic matters, with the exception of economic policy matters. It also differs from the Council of Economic Advisers, which provides research for the White House based on data, research, and evidence. The Council is also the principal arm of the president when coordinating his economic policies and goals among various other agencies.
The National Economic Council is headed by the assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council. Since January 20, 2025, that position has been held by Kevin Hassett.

## History and mission

The National Economic Council was created on January 25, 1993 by Executive Order 12835 by President Bill Clinton, officially to coordinate the economic policy-making process with respect to domestic and international economic issues; to coordinate economic policy advice to the president; to ensure that economic 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 economic policy agenda. Clinton appointed Robert Rubin as assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council on January 25, 1993, the same day as the creation of the Council. The creation of the council also fulfilled a major promise by President Bill Clinton, to make the economy of the United States a priority.
Prior to the creation of the National Economic Council, economic policy staff had existed since the 1960s. President Lyndon B. Johnson assigned a senior aide to develop and organize domestic policy, of which economic policy was included. In 1970, President Richard M. 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.
The Council is considered an important tool for presidential administrations to use to achieve their domestic, and international economic goals. Robert Rubin said that the purpose for the creation of the Council was to "fix a process problem" and according to Rubin, Clinton said that he believed that he needed to find "some process instrument" which would be able to perform the role and function necessary to advance the president's agenda, and allow agencies to deliberate, coordinate, and solve matters of economic importance. Rubin states another reason Clinton established the Council was "“integrate domestic and international economic policy and. . .integrate international economic policy and so-called foreign policy.” Instead of having two domestic and international domestic staff, the council would blend the two together.

## Structure and membership

Additional members are added by the president of the United States, however the structure and membership of the National Economic Council, which is similar to that of the National Security Council, is as follows:
Structure and membership of the United States National Economic Council (As of February 2025) :
| Chair | Donald Trump (President) |
| Director | Kevin Hassett (assistant to the president for economic policy) |
| Deputy Director | Vacant (deputy assistant to the president and deputy director for Labor & Economy) |
| Deputy Director | Vacant (deputy assistant to the president and deputy director for Industrial Policy) |
| Deputy Director | Vacant (deputy assistant to the president and deputy director for Competition & Policy) |
| Deputy Director | Vacant (deputy assistant to the president and deputy director for Economic & Tax Policy) |
| Regular attendees | JD Vance (Vice President) Marco Rubio (Secretary of State) Scott Bessent (Secretary of the Treasury) Vacant (Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers) Howard Lutnick (Secretary of Commerce) Lori Chavez-DeRemer (Secretary of Labor) Scott Turner (Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) Sean Duffy (Secretary of Transportation) Chris Wright (Secretary of Energy) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Secretary of Health and Human Services) |
| Additional participants | Kelly Loeffler (Administrator of the Small Business Administration) Lee Zeldin (Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency) Russ Vought (Director of the Office of Management and Budget) Jamieson Greer (United States Trade Representative) Vince Haley (Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy) Michael Waltz (Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs) |

## Directors of the National Economic Council

| Name | Start | End | President |
| Bob Rubin | January 25, 1993 | January 11, 1995 | Bill Clinton (1993–2001) |
| Laura Tyson | February 21, 1995 | December 12, 1996 | Bill Clinton (1993–2001) |
| Gene Sperling | December 12, 1996 | January 20, 2001 | Bill Clinton (1993–2001) |
| Larry Lindsey | January 20, 2001 | December 12, 2002 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| Steve Friedman | December 12, 2002 | January 10, 2005 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| Allan Hubbard | January 10, 2005 | November 28, 2007 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| Keith Hennessey | November 28, 2007 | January 20, 2009 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| Larry Summers | January 20, 2009 | January 20, 2011 | Barack Obama (2009–2017) |
| Gene Sperling | January 20, 2011 | March 5, 2014 | Barack Obama (2009–2017) |
| Jeff Zients | March 5, 2014 | January 20, 2017 | Barack Obama (2009–2017) |
| Gary Cohn | January 20, 2017 | April 2, 2018 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| Larry Kudlow | April 2, 2018 | January 20, 2021 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| Brian Deese | January 20, 2021 | February 21, 2023 | Joe Biden (2021–2025) |
| Lael Brainard | February 21, 2023 | January 20, 2025 | Joe Biden (2021–2025) |
| Kevin Hassett | January 20, 2025 | Incumbent | Donald Trump (2025–present) |