McMaster leads first Homeland Security Advisory Committee Meeting as Trump appointed chair

 

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster was appointed to head
the Homeland Security Advisory Council in January by 
President Donald Trump. The advisory council held their first
meeting July 2 in Washington. 

Written by Tony J. Spain, Palmetto Examiner
Monday, July 2, 2025

COLUMBIA, S.C. (PE)—South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster was appointed chair of the Homeland Security Advisory Council by President Donald Trump earlier this year and traveled to Washington to be sworn in and chair his first meeting Wednesday.

The July 2 meeting agenda included the swearing in of its 22 new members and discussions on the group’s focus and initiatives that will focus on military operations, immigration, disaster response, airline safety and national security.

“I look forward to working to strengthen our border security, further enforce immigration laws and advance President Trump’s America First Agenda,” McMaster said.

The HSAC was established March 19, 2002, the advisory council leverages the experience, expertise and national and global connections of its membership to provide the Secretary of Homeland Security with real-time, real-world and independent advice on homeland security operations.

In January the Trump administration’s DHS terminated all of its advisory committee members citing a ‘misuse of resources’ replacing the council with all new members. This new-look, America First HSAC will draw upon a deep well of public and private sector experience from homeland security experts committed to fulfilling President Trump’s agenda.

“I am proud to announce the formation of my revamped Homeland Security Advisory Council, which is comprised of Top Experts in their field, who are highly respected by their peers,” Trump said in April. “I know the new members will do an incredible job. Under secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s leadership, HSAC will work hard on developing new policies and strategies that will help secure our border, deport illegal criminal thugs, stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs that are killing our citizens, and make America safe again.”

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About the Author: Tony Spain is a former candidate for Richland County Council 2020 and an award winning former military photographer and journalist while in the Public Affairs Office for the U.S. Army. His photos and writing have been published in numerous publications such as The Commercial News, Danville, Ill.; The Paraglide, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Soldier of Fortune Magazine; The State Newspaper, Columbia, S.C., and more.

He lives in Columbia, S.C.

 

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