National Security: The Use of Presidential Directives to Make and Implement U.S. Policy

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed national security directives (NSD) issued by the Bush administration through the National Security Council (NSC), focusing on: (1) whether NSD have been used to make and implement U.S. policy; (2) whether congressional committees have received copies of NSD that discuss policy in their areas of jurisdiction; and (3) how NSD differ from executive orders.