Domestic Policy Council

Karl Zinsmeister is Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and Director of the Domestic Policy Council (DPC). The Domestic Policy Council coordinates the domestic policy-making process in the White House and offers policy advice to the President. The DPC also works to ensure that domestic policy initiatives are coordinated and consistent throughout federal agencies. Finally, the DPC monitors the implementation of domestic policy, and represents the President's priorities to other branches of government.

Although the name has changed throughout the years, a domestic policy staff has existed in the White House since the 1960s. A foundation for the current Domestic Policy Council (DPC) was first created in the Johnson White House, when a senior level aide spent a majority of his time developing domestic policy and attempting to organize a staff to facilitate that activity. In 1970, President Nixon issued an executive order creating the 'Office of Policy Development,' a larger White House office that currently oversees the National Economic Council and the Domestic Policy Council. The "Domestic Policy Council," as it is known today, was created by Executive Order in 1993.

Under President Bush, the Domestic Policy Council oversees major domestic policy areas such as education, health, housing, welfare, justice, federalism, transportation, environment, labor and veteran's affairs. The Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), USA Freedom Corps (USAFC), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) are also affiliated with the Domestic Policy Council. The Domestic Policy Council’s formal membership includes the cabinet Secretaries and Administrators of federal agencies that affect the issues addressed by the DPC.

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