Opinion ID: 3172147
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Board for Low Intensity Conflict

Text: In 1986, Congress amended the National Security Act to provide for the President’s “establish[ment]” within the NSC System of “a board to be known as the ‘Board for Low Intensity Conflict.’” J. Res. of Oct. 30, 1986, Pub. L. No. 99‐ 591, § 9115(f), 100 Stat. 3341, 3341‐125 (codified at 50 U.S.C. § 3021(g)). The “principal,” and sole statutorily identified, function of this board is “to 29 coordinate the policies of the United States for low intensity conflict.” 50 U.S.C. § 3021(g). We have already explained that “coordination” within the NSC is a means for securing national security policy recommendations to the President (advice) and consistent implementation of the President’s policy decisions (assistance) across government departments. Such coordination does not contemplate the NSC’s exercise of authority independent of the President. See supra at [20–21]. Thus, because coordination is the sole function statutorily assigned to the Board for Low Intensity Conflict, and because the statute gives the Board no authority to dictate to persons or departments, we conclude that the Board is not an agency subject to the FOIA.