Page "History of the United States National Security Council 1981–1989" Paragraph 5

Changes were made in the NSC from the outset of the Reagan presidency.

At a February 25, 1981, meeting chaired by Meese, Cabinet-level heads of the major foreign affairs agencies agreed on a plan to establish three Senior Interdepartmental Groups ( SIGs ) on foreign, defense, and intelligence problems, chaired respectively by the Secretaries of State and Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence.

Under the SIGs, a series of Assistant Secretary-level Interdepartmental Groups ( IGs ), each chaired by the agency with particular responsibility, dealt with specific issues.

The NSC staff was responsible for the assignment of issues to the groups.