PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 343 -JULY 26, 1947
(b) The National Military Establishment shall consist of the
Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the
Department of the Air Force, together with all other agencies created
under title II of this Act.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
SEC. 202. (a) There shall be a Secretary of Defense, who shall
be appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the
oneligibility for advice and consent of the Senate: Provided, That a person who has
appointment.
within ten years been on active duty as a commissioned officer in a
Regular component of the armed services shall not be eligible for
appointment as Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense
shall be the principal assistant to the President in all matters relat-
Duties.
ing to the national security. Under the direction of the President
and subject to the provisions of this Act he shall perform the
following duties:
(1) Establish general policies and programs for the National
Military Establishment and for all of the departments and
agencies therein;
(2) Exercise general direction, authority, and control over such
departments and agencies;
(3) Take appropriate steps to eliminate unnecessary duplica-
tion or overlapping in the fields of procurement, supply,
transportation, storage, health, and research;
(4) Supervise and coordinate the preparation of the budget
estimates of the departments and agencies comprising the National
Military Establishment; formulate and determine the budget
estimates for submittal to the Bureau of the Budget; and super-
vise the budget programs of such departments and agencies under
the applicable appropriation Act:
Rertariest
ofArmyf Provided, That nothing herein contained shall prevent the Secretary
Navy, and Air Force. of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, or the Secretary of the Air
Force from presenting to the President or to the Director of the
Budget, after first so informing the Secretary of Defense, any report
Administtion of or recommendation relating to his department which he may deem
Departments of necessary: And provided urther, That the Department of the Army,
Army, Navy, and the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force
shall be administered as individual executive departments by their
respective Secretaries and all powers and duties relating to such
departments not specifically conferred upon the Secretary of Defense
by this Act shall be retained by each of their respective Secretaries.
Reorts to Pressi
(b) The Secretary of Defense shall submit annual written reports
to the President and the Congress covering expenditures, work, and
accomplishments of the National Military Establishment, together
with such recommendations as he shall deem appropriate.
(c) The Secretary of Defense shall cause a seal of office to be made
for the National Military Establishment, of such design as the Presi-
dent shall approve, and judicial notice shall be taken thereof.
MITARY ASSISTANTS TO HE SECRETARY
SEC. 203. Officers of the armed services may be detailed to duty
as assistants and personal aides to the Secretary of Defense, but he
shall not establish a military staff.
Special assistants
CIVILIAN PERSONNEL
SEC. 204. (a) The Secretary of Defense is authorized to appoint
from civilian life not to exceed three special assistants to advise and
500
[61 STAT.
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