Democratic Homeland Security Bill Includes
Feinstein Provision to Create Director of
National Intelligence

January 9, 2003
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Washington, DC - The bill introduced today by Senate Democrats (S.6) to further improve our nation's homeland security includes a provision drafted by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to create the position of a Director of National Intelligence, whose full-time job would be to oversee the nation's intelligence community.

"I am very pleased that the Democratic Homeland Security Bill would create the position of a Director of National Intelligence (DNI), whose full-time job would be to set priorities and to give direction to the 14 various intelligence agencies in our government," Senator Feinstein said. "Under the current structure, the intelligence community is fragmented, there is a lack of coordination between agencies, and there is no effective leadership. Given the stakes of the war on terrorism, this structure is inadequate."

The measure, which Senator Feinstein first introduced last June, would separate the current position of Director of Central Intelligence (currently held by one individual, who both runs the CIA and the intelligence community as a whole) into two positions: a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to lead all segments of the Intelligence Community and a Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA) to serve as head of the CIA.

This concept was endorsed by the House-Senate Intelligence Committee investigating the September 11 attacks, which included a recommendation in support of the creation of the Director of National Intelligence with robust budget authority in the report it issued last month.

"In my view, there needs to be one person, whose full-time job it is to set priorities, move personnel, and devise a strategy to address the threats to the United States. The provision introduced in the new Senate bill improves upon last year's bill by taking into account the recommendations of the Joint Inquiry in the Events of September 11. Specifically, the DNI, as head of the Community, will be equipped with robust budget authority, which will give the director the ability to meaningfully manage both the creation, and the execution, of the Intelligence Community budget."

Summary:

Specifically, the legislation would:

  • Create the position of "Director of National Intelligence" to head the Intelligence Community.


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  • Give the Director of National Intelligence the responsibilities which, under current law, relate to the Intelligence Community, including the authority to:


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  • Set collection priorities for the Intelligence Community to ensure that collection is directed against the targets which most threaten our country; and ensure that the elements of the Intelligence Community cooperate and share information effectively;


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  • Coordinate Intelligence Community distribution of intelligence products to decision makers who need the information to make critical national security choices; and


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  • Allocate Intelligence Community resources to ensure that money and people are properly distributed and used.

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In addition, the bill would:

  • Provide for a 10-year term in office for the Director of National Intelligence: This will ensure independence and continuity in this critical position.


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  • Clarify and augment the Director of National Intelligence's authorities to direct the creation of the intelligence community budget: this will ensure meaningful and effective leadership of the Intelligence Community in the area of resource allocation.
  • Clarify and augment the Director of National Intelligence's authorities to reprogram intelligence community funds and personnel. This will provide for meaningful and flexible authority to expend Intelligence Community resources.


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  • Provide the Director of National Intelligence with an Intelligence Community General Counsel and Inspector General to assist him in carrying out his duties: This will ensure that the Intelligence Community is guided by effective and independent legal counsel who answers to only the Director of National Intelligence and that there is an Inspector General with authority to investigate fraud, waste and abuse on a community-wide basis.


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  • Create the position of "Director of the Central Intelligence Agency"to head the CIA. This will allow the CIA to be led by a chief whose only duty is to ensure that the Agency does the best possible job in collecting, analyzing and disseminating intelligence.

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