The Position of Director of National Intelligence: Issues for Congress
Abstract
The 9/11 Commission, in its recent report on the attacks of September 11, 2001, criticized the U.S. Intelligence Community's (IC) fragmented management structure and questioned whether the U.S. Government, and the IC, in particular, is organized adequately to direct resources and build the intelligence capabilities that the United States will need to counter terrorism, and to address the broader range of national security challenges in the decades ahead. The Commission made a number of recommendations, one of which was to replace the current position of Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) with a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) who would oversee national intelligence centers on specific subjects of interest -- including a National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) -- across the U.S. Government; manage the national intelligence program; oversee the agencies that contribute to it; and have hiring, firing, and budgetary authority over the IC's 15 agencies. The Commission recommended that the director, and the NCTC, be located in the Executive Office of the President and that a deputy DNI be established to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The Commission's recommendation to strengthen management authority over the IC is the latest contribution to an IC structural reform debate that dates at least to 1955, when arguments for stronger IC authority began to surface. OMB deputy director James Schlesinger in 1971 first broached the DNI concept. Recently, some Members of Congress introduced intelligence community reform legislation that would establish the position of DNI, or strengthen DCI authorities. Supporters argue that the DCI cannot manage the IC and the CIA and serve as the President's chief intelligence advisor, and do justice to any of the jobs. Opponents contend that placing the intelligence director in the Executive Office of the President risks the politicization of intelligence.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA450086
Entities
People
- Alfred Cumming
Organizations
- Library of Congress