White House chief strategist Steve Bannon Stephen (Steve) Kevin BannonDemocrats' cowardice must end: It's time to teach the GOP a lesson Juan Williams: Swamp creature at the White House Engineers say privately funded border wall is poorly constructed and set to fail: report MORE cast President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE's defense policy as one that puts military power into the hands of the "warfighters."

"The President believes the best thing to do is to let the warfighters fight the war," Bannon told CNN.

But the chief strategist also said that Trump has ultimately held onto his ability to oversee "anything important on the warfighting side," according to CNN, adding that he has remained deeply involved in developing military strategy.

"He hasn't given up any of the strategic decisions," Bannon said.

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Trump has increasingly empowered the Pentagon and military leaders to make tactical military decisions, breaking from the precedent of White House oversight carried out by both Republican and Democratic administrations in the past, CNN reported.

The move, administration officials say, is designed to reverse Obama administration – and, to a lesser extent, George W. Bush administration – practices that weigh down military campaigns and hamper commanders' abilities to make tactical decisions.

But that transfer of power from the White House to the Pentagon has also raised questions about whether Trump will be held to the same level of accountability as the military officials he has empowered.

"It's really important for the President to take responsibility for outcome and have a conversation with the American people that prepares people for both what we're trying to do and the sacrifices that will be required to do it," Kori Schake, George W. Bush's former National Security Council director for defense strategy, told CNN.