By electing Donald Trump to the White House again, Americans conveyed their desire for a leaner government. That doesn’t necessarily mean they want a small government. Instead, they want the government streamlined to its essential functions to best serve the national interest. A laudable passion for efficiency comes with a big risk, however: It may inadvertently hinder the implementation of an America First agenda.

Some of President Trump’s greatest successes during his first administration came from effectively wielding bureaucracy, not dismantling it. The National Space Council (NSpC) is a case in point. Inactive since 1993, this crucial instrument was reinstated by Trump in 2017 to coordinate multi-agency efforts for his ambitious policies. The result was the most space-friendly administration since the 1960s.

The NSpC is a White House body overseeing the nation’s economic, scientific, and national-security policies related to space. It is essential for aligning the (often competing) interests of NASA, the Defense Department, the Commerce Department, and any other organization with a space-relevant portfolio. It advances the president’s goals and priorities through the bureaucracy to achieve America’s interests in space. Coherent and sustainable policy would be almost impossible without the National Space Council.

Trump’s accomplishments with the NSpC demonstrate how a savvy executive can wield bureaucracy for reform. Vice President Mike Pence chaired it, and he promoted exploration, commercial development, and national-defense capabilities. At the president’s direction, the council led the development of legislation creating the Space Force, the newest branch of the military. Space Policy Directives reduced regulatory barriers, thereby allowing strengthened partnerships with America’s space companies, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX. NASA’s Artemis Accords, an international agreement for the peaceful exploration and use of space, would not have happened without the NSpC’s high-level protection. The same can be said for one of Trump’s last executive orders, which promoted property rights to space resources.

In contrast, space policy has been moribund under President Biden. Vice President Harris, who chaired the NSpC, made no secret of her lack of interest in space. Instead of assisting the president by asserting leadership as Pence did, she all but ignored her duties. Some Trump-era advances continued to pay dividends, as shown by the increasing number of Artemis Accords signatories. But by and large, the Biden-Harris NSpC diverted space policy to unproductive goals, such as diversifying the space workforce, promoting climate alarmism, and adding regulatory red tape that makes us weaker—not stronger—in space.

Trump’s NSpC succeeded because it was chaired by a competent leader, and because it was made up of stakeholders who agreed that America First in space meant harnessing commercial and scientific means to advance geopolitical ends. As a result, America reestablished leadership in space exploration. But the Biden administration’s efforts failed because Harris was largely absent, and stakeholders were distracted by considerations that had nothing to do with maintaining space dominance.

There is a lesson here for Trump’s closest advisers and emerging cabinet: The NSpC is not another useless committee. Competently wielded, it’s the key to harnessing the talents needed to seize the opportunities out there in space. Biden-era stagnation happens when the executive makes bad decisions, particularly regarding agency staffing. But as we’ve seen, with the right people and policies, it can be a source of innovation and vigor.

The National Space Council, like all administrative bodies, is a tool. It can accomplish great things—if used skillfully. There are many good people involved in space policy who are willing to be led if they think the president and his advisers have the nation’s best interests at heart. By all means, let the Trump administration trim fat and rethink the role of government. But as serious athletes know, getting too lean impairs performance. Trump’s second NSpC has the potential to do even greater things than its first, provided he chooses to wield it on behalf of his priorities and the American people.