National Security Action, a Democratic foreign policy group founded in 2018, is undergoing a significant restructuring as the party prepares for the next presidential cycle. The organization has brought in Maher Bitar, a longtime national security operative who most recently served as national security adviser and chief counsel to Senator Adam Schiff, to lead the effort heading into 2028.
The group's mission is straightforward: identify and cultivate the next generation of Democratic national security talent while shaping the party's foreign policy platform for the coming election and administration. Bitar told Axios the organization will host retreats, conduct polling, and function as a strategic hub to develop Democratic foreign policy thinking.
National Security Action has substantial pedigree in Democratic circles. During the 2020 election, the group heavily influenced the party's foreign policy messaging and went on to populate much of President Biden's national security apparatus. Jake Sullivan, now departed from the White House, was a co-founder and served as Biden's National Security Adviser.
Ben Rhodes, another co-founder who remains on the board, outlined the group's dual focus. "The two most interesting projects to think about are the pipeline of people who might work on campaigns and populate a Democratic administration, and then the ideas that can form a progressive or Democratic foreign policy going forward," he said.
Rhodes indicated a desire for fresh thinking at the top. "I think the next Democratic administration should look quite different from the Biden administration," he said. "It's kind of time to pass the baton so there's a really great opportunity to try to talent spot and help elevate some different voices."
The challenge facing National Security Action is substantial. The Democratic Party's consensus on foreign policy has fractured in ways that dwarf disagreements from Trump's first term. Favorability toward Israel among Democrats has plummeted from 53 percent in 2022 to 80 percent viewing the country unfavorably, a seismic shift driven by the Gaza conflict. The party is also deeply divided on tariffs, China policy, and artificial intelligence.
That fissure was on full display last month when 40 of 47 Senate Democrats voted to block arms sales to Israel. Among the supporters of that blockade were every senator seriously considering a 2028 presidential run, including Arizona's Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, New Jersey's Cory Booker, Michigan's Elissa Slotkin, Georgia's Jon Ossoff, and Connecticut's Chris Murphy.
Sullivan acknowledged the tension. "The center of gravity has shifted on the relationship with Israel, and there will be a debate about the nature of the relationship going forward," he said. "National Security Action is not going to resolve that debate, but it's going to try and ensure it's as healthy a debate as possible."
The ideological distance between the group's co-founders has widened since 2018. Rhodes said he and Sullivan "obviously moved in different directions" and that he has "moved in a more progressive direction on Israel and other things." He pledged to use his influence on the board to "help facilitate the inclusion of more progressive perspectives and ideas and people."
Bitar emphasized that National Security Action intends to remain inclusive. "We are not excluding anyone," he said, signaling an effort to build consensus across the party's fractured landscape even as deeper ideological battles loom.
Author James Rodriguez: "National Security Action is stepping into a minefield, and there's no amount of retreat hosting that will paper over whether Democrats believe the party should have backed Biden's approach to Gaza or something far more critical."
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