US President Donald Trump has removed chief strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council, reversing a controversial early decision to give him access to the high-level meetings.

A new memorandum about the composition of the NSC was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday.

The memo no longer lists the chief strategist as a member of the principals committee, a group of high-ranking officials that convene to discuss pressing national security priorities.

The new memo also restores the director of national intelligence and the Joint Chiefs chairman to the principals committee.

Mr Bannon's addition to the NSC sparked concerns from Trump critics, who said it was inappropriate for the political adviser to play a role on national security matters.

Tom Bossert, the assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, also had his role downgraded as part of the changes.

A senior White House official said that Mr Bannon was initially placed on the National Security Council after Mr Trump's inauguration as a measure to ensure the implementation of the president's vision, including efforts to downsize and streamline operations at the NSC.

Mr Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was at the helm of the NSC at the time, but the official said Mr Bannon's role on the committee had nothing to do with the troubles facing Mr Flynn, who was later asked to resign for misleading the administration about his communication with Russian officials.

US President Donald Trump has removed chief strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council, reversing a controversial early decision to give him access to the high-level meetings.

A new memorandum about the composition of the NSC was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday.

The memo no longer lists the chief strategist as a member of the principals committee, a group of high-ranking officials that convene to discuss pressing national security priorities.

The new memo also restores the director of national intelligence and the Joint Chiefs chairman to the principals committee.

Mr Bannon's addition to the NSC sparked concerns from Trump critics, who said it was inappropriate for the political adviser to play a role on national security matters.

Tom Bossert, the assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, also had his role downgraded as part of the changes.

A senior White House official said that Mr Bannon was initially placed on the National Security Council after Mr Trump's inauguration as a measure to ensure the implementation of the president's vision, including efforts to downsize and streamline operations at the NSC.

Mr Trump's first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, was at the helm of the NSC at the time, but the official said Mr Bannon's role on the committee had nothing to do with the troubles facing Mr Flynn, who was later asked to resign for misleading the administration about his communication with Russian officials.