The National Security Act Of 1947

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The National Security Act of 1947

The National Security Act of 1947 is an established federal law that sets up the National Military Establishment. The Secretary of Defense, who holds Cabinet status heads it. The National Military Establishment was renamed the Department of Defense in 1949. Following World War II (1939-1945) American political leaders began an effort to unite U.S. armed forces under an integrated command that would coordinate all branches of the military. Before 1947, the Army (which included the Army Air Forces) and the Navy had operated as separate entities with no permanent coordinating command structure. The National Security Act of 1947 created a unified National Military Establishment. The Act of 1947 contains this Declaration of Policy:
Declaration of Policy
“Sec. 2. In enacting this legislation, it is the intent of Congress to provide a comprehensive program for the future security of the United States; to provide for the establishment of integrated policies and procedures for the departments, agencies, and functions of the Government relating to the national security; to provide a Department of Defense, including the three military Departments of the Army, the Navy (including naval aviation and the United States Marine Corps), and the Air Force under the direction, authority, and control of the Secretary of Defense; to provide that each military department shall be separately organized under its own Secretary and shall function under the direction, authority, and control of the Secretary of Defense; to provide for their unified direction under civilian control of the Secretary of Defense but not to merge these departments or services; to provide for the establishment of unified or specified combatant commands, and a clear and direct line of command to such commands; to eliminate unnecessary duplication in the Department of Defense, and particularly in the field of research and engineering by vesting ...