Senior Democrats are reviving National Security Action (NSA), a foreign policy organization that previously influenced the party's approach to the 2020 election and staffed President Biden's national security team. The group has chosen Maher Bitar, a veteran of Democratic Capitol Hill and White House roles, to lead its efforts for the 2028 presidential primary season.
Founded in 2018 by Ben Rhodes and Jake Sullivan—who later became Biden's national security adviser—NSA acted as both an idea hub and a talent pipeline. The group aims to replicate that influence by shaping messaging and preparing national security specialists for the next Democratic administration.
Bitar, currently the national security adviser and chief counsel to Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), told Axios the revived group will host retreats, conduct polling, and serve as a "hub" for thinking through the party's foreign policy strategy. He previously worked as coordinator for intelligence and defense policy on Biden's National Security Council.
The group's reboot comes as Democrats seek to unify around a coherent foreign policy vision amid ongoing global challenges, including the war in Ukraine and tensions with China. By building an early infrastructure, NSA hopes to avoid the disarray that sometimes plagues opposition parties out of power.
Critics might argue that such early organizational moves risk appearing premature or overly insular, potentially alienating grassroots voices within the party. Others may question whether top-down talent pipelines truly produce the most effective policy outcomes.