Senator Feinstein Introduces Legislation to Strengthen
Leadership of U.S. Intelligence Community
June 19, 2002

Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced legislation to strengthen the leadership of the nation's intelligence community.

The bill 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 the all segments of the Intelligence Community and a Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA) to serve as head of the CIA.

"This legislation is a critical step toward creating a strong and effective leadership structure to provide oversight and direction for the more than a dozen agencies which make up the intelligence community." Senator Feinstein said. "The legislation would ensure that one person has the full-time job of guiding the intelligence community, with specific authority to formulate and administer budgets of the agencies and move personnel within and between them."

"While this bill will certainly not solve every problem within the intelligence community, I believe it to be a necessary first step towards getting our intelligence house in order."

The National Security Act of 1947 created the majority of our Cold War-era national security apparatus. Under the structure established more than 50 years ago, one person occupied two critical positions.

  • As head of the Intelligence Community -- which includes the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, and the intelligence-gathering elements of the FBI, as well as others -- this person in this position is responsible for coordinating a multitude of agencies and harnessing their efforts to secure the overall needs of U.S. national security.


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  • As Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the person is the CEO of the Agency charged with collecting human intelligence, analyzing all intelligence collected by the U.S. government, and conducting covert operations.

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"Although this structure served us well enough in the Cold War, it is far from perfect, and I do not believe that giving both jobs to one person makes sense," Senator Feinstein said. "As a practical matter, the demands of these two full time jobs are simply too much for any one person. That is why I believe the positions should be split."

Summary of "Intelligence Community Leadership Act of 2002"

Specifically, the bill:

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


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


    •  -Set collection priorities for the Intelligence Community, ensuring that collection is directed against the targets which most threaten our countries;

    -Ensure that the elements of the Intelligence Community cooperate and share information effectively;

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

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

In addition, the bill:

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


  • Clarifies and augments 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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  • Provides 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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  • Creates 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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