Updated June 7, 2021
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
The United States Intelligence Community (IC) is a
Ensuring that timely, accurate, and objective national
collection of 18 statutory elements within 6 cabinet
intelligence is provided to policymakers.
departments and an independent agency that all carry out
intelligence-related functions. As provided in statute, the
Overseeing and providing advice to the President and
Director of National Intelligence (DNI) oversees the
the National Security Council with respect to all
integration of these intelligence functions, spearheads the
ongoing and proposed covert action programs.
support the IC provides to the military and senior
policymakers across the government, and serves as
Establishing objectives and priorities for collection,
principal intelligence advisor to the President.
analysis, production, and dissemination of national
intelligence.
Creation of DNI Position
In 2004, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks
Collaborating with the Under Secretary of Defense for
upon the United States, (also called the 9/11 Commission)
Intelligence and Security in the development and
recommended the creation of a central coordinating
execution of the Military Intelligence Program (MIP).
authority among the then-16 component organizations of
the IC to mitigate administrative and operational barriers,
Managing intelligence and counterintelligence
and promote the sharing of intelligence and information.
relationships with domestic and foreign intelligence
Congress acted on this recommendation, creating the
partners.
position of the DNI through passage of the 2004
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (P.L.
Developing personnel policies and programs to enhance
108-458, or IRTPA). The law also eliminated the Director
joint intelligence operations, and facilitate community
of Central Intelligence (DCI) position, which had existed
management functions.
since 1946. Through a “triple-hatted” arrangement, the DCI
simultaneously served as community manager of the IC,
Authorities
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and
To carry out these responsibilities the DNI has the statutory
chief intelligence advisor to the President. With the passage
authority to
of IRTPA, the DNI assumed responsibility as manager of
Act as the decisionmaking authority on major
the IC and principal intelligence advisor to the President,
intelligence-related acquisitions, with the exception of
leaving leadership of the CIA to the Director of the CIA.
acquisitions involving DOD programs. In those cases,
Table 1.
the DNI shares authority with the Secretary of Defense.
DNIs to Date
2005-2007
Ambassador John Negroponte
Establish Mission and Functional Managers to serve as
2007-2009
VADM (Ret.) J. Michael McConnell
principal substantive advisors on intelligence collection
and analysis related to designated countries, regions, or
2009-2010
ADM (Ret.) Dennis Blair
functional areas such as cyber threat intelligence.
2010-2017
LTGEN (Ret.) James Clapper
Establish councils related to IC-wide management and
2017-2019
Former Senator Daniel Coats
intelligence integration.
2019-2020
VADM (Ret.) Joseph McGuire (acting)
Establish policies and procedures that (1) encourage
2020-2020
Ambassador Richard Grenell (acting)
sound IC-wide analytic methods and tradecraft; (2)
ensure analysis based upon all available sources; and (3)
2020-2021
Former Representative John L Ratcliffe
ensure competitive analysis of analytic products.
2021-present
Avril D. Haines
Develop and oversee implementation of the National
Responsibilities
Intelligence Program (NIP) budget.
Pursuant to IRTPA, as amended and codified in 50 U.S.C.
Direct how congressionally appropriated funds flow
§3024, and Executive Order 12333 (as amended), DNI
from the Treasury Department to each of the cabinet
responsibilities include
level agencies containing IC elements, including
through transferring or reprogramming funds within
Serving as head of the IC and principal advisor to the
certain limits and with Office of Management and
President on intelligence matters.
Budget (OMB) approval.
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The Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
Spearhead security clearance process improvements,
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018, 2019,
and IC-wide security clearance reciprocation policy.
and 2020 established within the ODNI both a Climate
Security Advisory Council and a Foreign Malign Influence
Establish uniform security and information technology
Response Center (Sections 5321 and 5322 of Division E of
standards, protocols, and interfaces.
P.L. 116-92), Currently, the principal organizational
components of the ODNI include
Develop an IC-wide information sharing architecture.
The Mission Integration Division, which includes some
Establish, operate, and direct national intelligence
of the most visible responsibilities of the DNI involved
centers.
with intelligence analysis, integration and prioritization,
such as the National Intelligence Council (NIC); the
Transfer IC personnel for up to two years, with OMB
President’s Daily Brief (PDB); Mission Performance,
and agency head approval.
Analysis and Collection; the National Intelligence
Management Council (NIMC); Election Threats
Encourage assignment rotation whereby IC personnel
Executive; Cyber Executive; and Space Executive.
have a chance to work in other IC elements.
Three Mission Centers: the National Counterintelligence
Establish and implement procedures to protect
and Security Center (NCSC); the National
intelligence sources and collection methods.
Counterterrorism Center (NCTC); and the National
Counterproliferation Center (NCPC).
Manage and direct the tasking, collection, analysis,
production, and dissemination of national intelligence
The Policy and Capabilities Division, which includes
by approving requirements and promoting integration
offices involved with community management,
and efficiency of effort.
planning, and acquisition, such as IC Human Capital; IC
Acquisition, Procurement and Facilities; Requirements,
Appoint the deputy directors of national intelligence, the
Cost and Effectiveness; Policy and Strategy; and
Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
Domestic Engagement and Information Sharing. The
(NCPC), the IC Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the IC
Division also includes the Intelligence Advanced
Director of the Civil Liberties Protection Office, and the
Projects Research Agency (IARPA).
IC Director of Science and Technology.
The ODNI also includes offices responsible for various
Coordinate with cabinet secretaries who require DNI
aspects of oversight: Civil Liberties, Privacy and
concurrence on nominations of departmental
Transparency (CLPT); Equal Employment Opportunity
intelligence component heads. Consult in appointments
and Diversity (EEOD); the Inspector General of the IC
to positions for which DNI concurrence is not required:
(ICIG), and the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
the USD(I), the Assistant Attorney General for National
Security, the Director of the Defense Intelligence
CRS Products
Agency (DIA), and the uniformed heads of Service
CRS In Focus IF10525, Defense Primer: National and
intelligence elements (including the intelligence element
Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
of the United States Coast Guard).
CRS In Focus IF10428, Intelligence Planning,
Office of the DNI
Programming, Budgeting, and Evaluation (IPPBE)
The IRTPA also created an Office of the DNI (ODNI), a
Process, by Michael E. DeVine
statutory element of the IC, including permanent
government employees, contractors, and detailees from
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National
other IC agencies. The DNI has periodically reorganized
Security
the ODNI consistent with administration policy and
priorities, most recently in 2020. Congress, too, has
IF10470
influenced ODNI organization. For example, the
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The Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10470 · VERSION 10 · UPDATED