Updated March 16, 2023
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
As provided in statute, the Director of National Intelligence
Responsibilities
(DNI) oversees the integration of the intelligence functions
The IRTPA, as amended, includes provisions governing
of the 18 statutory elements of the Intelligence Community
DNI responsibilities (50 U.S.C. §§3023-3024). Among
(IC), spearheads the support the IC provides to the military
them, the DNI is responsible for:
and senior policymakers across the government, and serves
as principal intelligence advisor to the President. The DNI
Serving as head of the IC and principal advisor to the
is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
President on intelligence matters.
Creation of DNI Position
Ensuring that timely, accurate, and objective national
Congress created the position of DNI recognizing a need
intelligence is provided to policy makers.
for a senior official to provide dedicated leadership of
efforts to improve coordination and information sharing
Overseeing and providing advice to the President and
between IC elements and between intelligence and law
the National Security Council with respect to all
enforcement agencies. Prior to the creation of the position
ongoing and proposed covert action programs.
of DNI, the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) was
responsible for managing the diverse elements of the IC, in
Establishing objectives and priorities for collection,
addition to leading the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA),
analysis, production, and dissemination of national
and advising the President on intelligence matters.
intelligence.
Following the attacks on the U.S. homeland of September
11, 2001, however, the National Commission on Terrorist
Overseeing the management and directing the
Attacks upon the United States (also called the 9/11
implementation of the National Intelligence Program
Commission) recommended replacing the triple-hatted
(NIP).
position of DCI with a central coordinating authority over
the IC elements dedicated to mitigating administrative and
Collaborating with the Under Secretary of Defense for
operational barriers impeding the lawful sharing of
Intelligence and Security (USD(I&S)) in the
information and intelligence. Acting on the Commission’s
development and execution of the Military Intelligence
recommendation, Congress established the DNI position
Program (MIP).
through provisions in the 2004 Intelligence Reform and
Terrorism Prevention Act (P.L. 108-458, or IRTPA). With
Managing intelligence and counterintelligence
the passage of IRTPA, Congress abolished the position of
relationships with domestic and foreign intelligence
DCI; the DNI assumed responsibility as both manager of
partners.
the IC and principal intelligence advisor to the President,
while leadership of the CIA was left to the Director of the
Developing personnel policies and programs to enhance
CIA.
joint intelligence operations, and facilitate community
management functions.
Table 1. DNIs to Date
Authorities
2005-2007
Ambassador John Negroponte
To carry out these responsibilities the DNI has the statutory
2007-2009
VADM (Ret.) J. Michael McConnell
authority to:
2009-2010
ADM (Ret.) Dennis Blair
Act as the decisionmaking authority on major
2010-2017
LTGEN (Ret.) James Clapper
intelligence-related acquisitions, with the exception of
acquisitions involving DOD programs. In those cases,
2017-2019
Former Senator Daniel Coats
the DNI shares authority with the Secretary of Defense.
2019-2020
VADM (Ret.) Joseph McGuire (acting)
Establish Mission and Functional Managers to serve as
2020-2020
Ambassador Richard Grenell (acting)
principal substantive advisors on intelligence collection
2020-2021
Former Representative John L. Ratcliffe
and analysis related to designated countries, regions, or
functional areas such as cyber threat intelligence.
2021-present
Ms Avril D. Haines
Establish councils related to IC-wide management and
intelligence integration.
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The Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
Establish policies and procedures that require sound IC-
Years 2018, 2019, and 2020, for example, established
wide analytic methods and tradecraft, analysis based
within the ODNI both a Climate Security Advisory Council
upon all available sources, and competitive analysis of
(Section 5321 of Division E of P.L. 116-92), Currently, the
analytic products.
principal organizational components of the ODNI include:
Develop and oversee implementation of the National
The Mission Integration Division, which includes some
Intelligence Program (NIP) budget.
of the most visible responsibilities of the DNI involved
with intelligence analysis, integration and prioritization,
Direct how congressionally appropriated funds flow
such as the National Intelligence Council (NIC); the
from the Treasury Department to each of the cabinet
President’s Daily Brief (PDB); Mission Performance,
level agencies containing IC elements, including
Analysis and Collection; and the National Intelligence
through transferring or reprogramming funds within
Management Council (NIMC).
certain limits and with Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval.
Five Mission Centers: the National Counterintelligence
and Security Center (NCSC); the National
Spearhead security clearance process improvements,
Counterterrorism Center (NCTC); and the National
and IC-wide security clearance reciprocation policy.
Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center (NCBC),
the Foreign Malign Influence Center (FMIC); and the
Establish uniform security and information technology
Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (CTIIC).
standards, protocols, and interfaces.
The Policy and Capabilities Division, which includes
Develop an IC information sharing architecture.
offices involved with community management,
planning, and acquisition, such as IC Human Capital; IC
Establish and direct national intelligence centers.
Acquisition, Procurement and Facilities; Requirements,
Cost and Effectiveness; Policy and Strategy; and
Transfer IC personnel for up to two years, with OMB
Domestic Engagement and Information Sharing. The
and agency head approval.
Division also includes the Intelligence Advanced
Projects Research Agency (IARPA).
Encourage assignment rotation whereby IC personnel
have a chance to work in other IC elements.
The ODNI also includes offices responsible for various
aspects of oversight: Civil Liberties, Privacy and
Establish and implement procedures to protect
Transparency (CLPT); Equal Employment Opportunity
intelligence sources and collection methods.
and Diversity (EEOD); the Inspector General of the IC
(ICIG), and the Office of General Counsel (OGC).
Manage and direct the tasking, collection, analysis,
production, and dissemination of national intelligence
Relevant Statutes
by approving requirements and promoting integration
and efficiency of effort.
Title 50, U.S. Code, §§3023-3034a
Appoint the deputy directors of national intelligence, the
CRS Products
Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
(NCPC), the IC Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the IC
CRS In Focus IF10525, Defense Primer: National and Defense
Chief of the Civil Liberties, Privacy and Transparency
Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
Office, and the IC Chief of Science and Technology.
CRS In Focus IF10523, Defense Primer: Under Secretary of
Defense for Intelligence and Security, by Michael E. DeVine
Coordinate with cabinet secretaries who require DNI
CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense Primer: Budgeting for National
concurrence on nominations of departmental
and Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
intelligence component heads. Consult in appointments
to positions for which DNI concurrence is not required:
the USD(I&S), the Assistant Attorney General for
Other Resources
National Security, the Director of the Defense
Executive Order 12333, United States Intelligence Activities
Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the uniformed heads of
ODNI Intelligence Activities Procedures Approved by the Attorney
Service intelligence elements (including the intelligence
General Pursuant to E.O. 12333
element of the United States Coast Guard).
ICD-900, Integrated Mission Management
Office of the DNI
The IRTPA also established the Office of the DNI (ODNI),
a statutory element of the IC, including permanent
government employees, contractors, and those detailed
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National
from other IC agencies. The DNI has periodically
Security
reorganized the ODNI consistent with administration policy
IF10470
and priorities. Congress, too, has influenced ODNI
organization. The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal
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The Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10470 · VERSION 11 · UPDATED