The Biden administration has just released its National Security Strategy, as mandated by the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. The NSS theoretically serves as the grand strategy document for the United States, linking the ends of policy and the means available to achieve them in light of limited resources.

In theory, the NSS shapes the National Defense Strategy and the Defense Strategic Guidance, documents developed and released by the secretary of defense as the basis of defense planning. It also affects the National Military Strategy, which is prepared by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and outlines how the military will implement its portion of the NSS.