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Updated June 27, 2018
U.S. Intelligence Community Elements: Establishment
Provisions
The concept of a U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) of
Table 1 summarizes dates and directives for the
integrated component departments and agencies began to
establishment of each of the 17 IC component
take shape after World War II, in part through the
organizations. In some cases, such as the Navy’s Office of
establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency. Prior to
Naval Intelligence, the intelligence organization predates
that time, U.S. intelligence organizations existed within the
the IC concept. Although not included in statute as a part of
military services and largely operated independently of one
the IC, the establishment of the position of Under Secretary
another. References to an Intelligence Community first
of Defense (Intelligence) (USD(I)) is included in this listing
appear in the mid-1950s. The components of the IC were
in reflection of the leadership the USD(I) exercises over
first specified in statute by the Intelligence Organization
Department of Defense intelligence programs in
Act of 1992 (Title VII of P.L. 102-496). The IC has since
coordination with the Director of National Intelligence.
evolved into a federated community of 17 components
spread across 2 independent agencies and 6 separate
departments of the federal government.
Table 1. U.S. Intelligence Community Elements: Establishment Dates and Mechanisms
Elementa
Establishment Date
Mechanism of Establishment
Established by Statute
Central Intel igence Agency (CIA)
September 18, 1947
50 U.S.C. §3035. See also P.L. 80-253 §102 (National Security Act of 1947).
Department of Energy, Office of
August 4, 1977
42 U.S.C. §7131. See also §201 of P.L. 95-91(DOE Act of 1977). DOE merged
Intelligence and Counterintelligence
its intelligence and counter-intelligence offices in 2006.
(DOE/IN)
Department of Defense (DOD), National
October 1, 1996
10 U.S.C. §441 and 50 U.S.C. §3045.The National Imagery and Mapping Agency
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
(NIMA) was established by P.L. 104-201 (National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA) for FY1997). NIMA was renamed NGA in 2003 under §921of P.L.
108-136 (FY2004 NDAA).
Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
December 28, 2001
50 U.S.C. §401a(4)(H), later editorial y reclassified as 50 U.S.C. §3003(4)(H).
U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence (USCG/IN)
See also §105 of P.L. 107-108 (Intel igence Authorization Act (IAA) for
FY2002).b
DHS, Office of Intelligence and Analysis
November 25, 2002
6 U.S.C. §121. See also §201 of P.L. 107-296 (Homeland Security Act of 2002).
(DHS/OIA)
DOD, Under Secretary of Defense
December 2, 2002
10 U.S.C. §137. See also §901 of P.L. 107-314 (FY2003 NDAA).
(Intel igence)d
Department of the Treasury, Office of
December 13, 2003
31 U.S.C. §312. See also §105 of P.L. 108-177 (FY2004 IAA) which establishes
Intelligence and Analysis (Treasury/OIA)
the OIA and the position of Assistant Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis
within Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
Office of the Director of National
December 17, 2004
50 U.S.C. §3023-3026. See also §1011 and §3003 of P.L. 108-458 (Intelligence
Intelligence, and Director of National
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004).
Intelligence (ODNI and DNI)
Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of
December 17, 2004
28 U.S.C. §532 note and §2002 in P.L. 108-458, creating an FBI “Directorate of
Investigation (FBI), Intel igence Branch
Intelligence [DI].” In 2005, the DI was incorporated into a newly created
(FBI/IB)
National Security Branch (NSB). As of July 2014, the DI was aligned under a
newly established Intelligence Branch—a branch separate and distinct from the
NSB.c
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Elementa
Establishment Date
Mechanism of Establishment
Established by Department of Defense (DOD) Action
U.S. Navy Office of Naval Intel igence
March 23, 1882
HQ-level intelligence organization by order of the Secretary of the Navy,
(USN/ONI)
General Order No. 292.h
U.S. Army Office of the Adjutant General,
April 12, 1889
HQ-level intelligence organization, in accordance with confidential orders of
Military Information Division (MID)
the War Department, April 12, 1889.f
HQ-level intelligence organization, in accordance with HQ Memo 1-1939, Apr
U.S Marine Corps, Intel igence Section
April 21, 1939
21, 1939.g
(USMC/MCISR-E)
[Army] Air Corps Air Staff (Intelligence)
June 20, 1941
Headquarters (HQ)-level intelligence organization, in accordance with (IAW)
(ACAS/A-2)
Army Regulation 95-5 (revised). Became HQ USAF/A-2 when the U.S. Air
Force (USAF) was established as a separate department in 1947 (P.L. 80-253
§208).e
DOD, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
August 1, 1961
DOD Directive 5105.21—updated March 18, 2008.
DOD, National Reconnaissance Office
September 6, 1961
DOD Directive 5105.23—updated October 29, 2015. See also §1035 of P.L.
(NRO)
111-84 (FY2010 NDAA).
Established by Executive Action
Department of State, Intelligence and
October 1, 1945
E.O. 9621, “Termination of the Office of Strategic Services and Disposition of
Research Bureau (DOS/INR)
its Functions,” effective October 1, 1945.j
DOD, National Security Agency (NSA)
December 29, 1952
National Security Council Intel igence Directive (NSCID) 9 Revised,
“Communications Intelligence,” Dec. 29, 1952, and NSCID 6, Feb. 17, 1972.
See also 50 U.S.C. Ch. 47 §3601-3618.k
DOJ, Drug Enforcement Administration
February 17, 2006i
Joint DNI-Attorney General Memorandum. The DEA was established through
(DEA), Office of National Security
E.O. 11727, “Drug Law Enforcement,” July 6, 1973.
Intelligence (ONSI)
Source: CRS
Notes:
a. IC elements are defined in 50 U.S.C. §3003, which also includes a provision for admitting additional elements to the IC by a decision of either the President or jointly by
the DNI and the head of a department of agency concerned.
b. See also Kevin Wirth, The Coast Guard Intelligence Program Enters the Intelligence Community, Occasional Paper 16 (Washington D.C: NDIC Press, May 2007) at http://ni-
u.edu/ni_press/pdf/The_Coast_Guard_Intel igence_Program%20.pdf.
c. The FBI’s DI can be traced back to the FBI’s Bureau of Investigation (established January 26, 1908). December 17, 2004 reflects the first of a number of changes to
integrate the FBI’s intel igence-related activities with those of the IC. See also George W. Bush, Memorandum on Strengthening the Ability of the Department of Justice To
Meet Challenges to the Security of the Nation, June 28, 2005; and FBI Organization Chart, July 15, 2014, at https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/pages/images/2014/09/
26/ag_signed_fbi_org_chart.jpg. In March 2006, §506 of P.L. 109-177 created the National Security Division (NSD) within the DOJ headed by an Assistant Attorney
General for National Security. DOJ’s Office of Intel igence (OI) is part of the NSD. The DOJ/OI is not an IC element.
d. The Office of the USD(I) is not formal y recognized as a component of the IC.
e. National Archives, “Records of Army Air Forces” at https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/018.html. On November 4, 1947, HQ USAF Directive
HOI 20-12 placed intel igence within the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations. See “Records of Headquarters United States Air Force (Air Staff)” at
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/341.html. On July 1, 1957, a HQ reorganization reestablished the A-2 as a separate entity within the Air
Staff. See Air Force Historical Studies Office, Key Personnel, January 2013, p. 38, footnote 21, at http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130410-035.pdf.
f.
The MID originated informally in 1885 within the Office of Army Adjutant General. See James Finley, ed., U.S. Army Military Intelligence History: A Sourcebook, Ft. Huachuca,
AZ: U.S. Army Intel igence Center, 1995, pp. 63 and 91, at http://huachuca-www.army.mil/files/History_MIReader.pdf. Prior to 1889, Army intel igence units were
established by army commanders on an ad hoc basis.
g. Historical Division, HQ USMC, A Brief History of Headquarters Marine Corps Staff Organization, Marine Corps Historical Reference Pamphlet, Revised 1970, footnote 59,
provided to CRS by the USMC Intel igence Division, December 2, 2016. Prior to 1939, USMC intel igence units were established by commanders on an ad hoc basis.
h. General Order 292 (March 23, 1882) “Establishment of Office of Intel igence,” Naval History and Heritage Command, at
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetical y/g/general-orders/general-order-no-292.html. Prior to 1882, maritime
intel igence units were established by commanders on an ad hoc basis.
i.
February 17, 2006 marks the date the Office of National Security Intel igence (ONSI) was established as a component of the IC by means of a joint agreement between
the DNI and Attorney General. See ODNI News Release 6-06, February 17, 2006, at https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/Newsroom/Press%20Releases/
2006%20Press%20Releases/20060217_release_content.htm.
j.
E.O. 9621 transferred several functions of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to other departments. The OSS’s Research and Analysis Branch was relocated within
the State Department and became State’s Intel igence and Research Bureau.
k. See also “The Origins of NSA” at https://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic-heritage/historical-figures-publications/publications/misc/assets/files/origins_of_nsa.pdf.
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National Security
IF10527
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U.S. Intelligence Community Elements: Establishment Provisions
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