Updated April 22, 2024
Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence
The Intelligence Community (IC) is responsible for
National and Defense Intelligence
providing insight into actual or potential threats to the U.S.
National intelligence addresses the strategic requirements
homeland, the American people, and national interests at
of national security policymakers such as the President and
home and abroad. It aims to do so through the production of
the Secretaries of Defense and State. National intelligence
timely, apolitical products and services to help inform
programs and activities are funded through the NIP budget
tactical and strategic decision-makers. Consumers of
appropriations, which are a consolidation of appropriations
intelligence include the President, the National Security
for the ODNI, CIA, general defense, and national
Council (NSC), executive branch departments and agencies,
cryptologic, reconnaissance, geospatial, and other
the military, Congress, and the law enforcement
specialized intelligence programs. The NIP, therefore,
community.
provides funding for not only the ODNI, CIA, and IC
elements of the Departments of Homeland Security,
The IC is composed of 18 elements (50 U.S.C. §3003(4)), 2
Energy, the Treasury, Justice, and State, but also,
of which are independent, and 16 of which are component
substantially, for the strategic-level programs and activities
organizations of six separate departments of the federal
of the intelligence agencies within DOD, particularly the
government. These elements receive appropriated
NSA, NGA, DIA, and NRO.
intelligence funding from the National Intelligence Program
(NIP). The nine DOD IC elements also receive funding
Defense intelligence comprises the intelligence
from the Military Intelligence Program (MIP). For more on
organizations and capabilities of the military services, Joint
intelligence funding see, CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense
Staff, combatant commands, and DIA, which address
Primer: Budgeting for National and Defense Intelligence,
strategic and tactical requirements supporting military
by Michael E. DeVine.
strategy, planning, and operations. Defense intelligence
provides products and services on foreign military
Statutory IC Elements
capabilities, plans and intentions, orders-of-battle,
disposition of forces, and the political, social, and economic
DOD Elements:
factors influencing the environment in areas of actual or
•
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
potential military operations.
•
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
•
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
National and defense intelligence are not discrete
•
National Security Agency (NSA)
enterprises. The 18 organizational elements, regardless of
•
U.S. Naval Intelligence (N2)
whether they may primarily focus on national or defense
•
U.S. Marine Corps Intel igence, Surveil ance and Reconnaissance
intelligence activities, are required to collaborate closely to
Enterprise (MCISR-E)
address intelligence gaps and disseminate timely products
•
U.S. Army Intel igence (G2)
to appropriately cleared personnel across the government.
•
U.S. Air Force Intel igence, Surveil ance and Reconnaissance
IC elements are expected to leverage international partners
(AF/A2)
on issues of mutual concern to complement the organic
•
U.S. Space Force Intel igence (S-2)
national and defense intelligence activities funded through
Non-DOD Elements:
the NIP and MIP.
•
Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
Who Does What?
•
Central Intel igence Agency (CIA)
•
Executive Order (EO) 12333, codified in 50 U.S.C. §3001,

Department of State (DOS) intel igence component: Bureau of
Intelligence and Research (INR)
establishes general duties and responsibilities for each
•
Department of Justice (DOJ) intelligence components: the Drug
element of the IC. Other laws, executive orders, and policy
Enforcement Administration’s Office of National Security
issuances may establish additional duties and
Intelligence (DEA/ONSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s
responsibilities for particular IC elements.
Intelligence Branch (FBI/IB)
•
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence components:
• DIA is a DOD combat support agency that collects,
Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and U.S. Coast Guard
analyzes, and disseminates foreign military intelligence
Intelligence (CG-2)
•
to policymakers and the military. DIA serves as the

Department of Energy (DOE) intel igence component: Office of
nation’s primary manager and producer of forei
Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence (OICI)
gn
•
military intelligence. It manages the production of

Department of the Treasury intelligence component: Office of
Intelligence and Analysis (OIA)
intelligence for the Secretary of Defense, the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and the combatant commands.
Source: 50 U.S. Code §3003(4); ODNI.
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link to page 2 Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence
• NGA produces geospatial intelligence products and
When acting as DDI, the incumbent reports to the DNI and
services in support of policymakers, warfighters, other
serves as the DNI’s principal advisor regarding defense
intelligence agencies, and first responders.
intelligence, counterintelligence, and security matters.
• NRO builds and operates satellites and ground stations
Strategic, Operational, and Tactical
whose main purpose is collecting imagery and signals
Intelligence
intelligence to support other agencies’ intelligence
Table 1 provides an overview of the intelligence
products and services.
corresponding to what DOD calls strategic, operational,
and tactical levels of warfare.
• NSA specializes in cryptology, encompassing signals
intelligence and information assurance, and is
Table 1. Levels of Intelligence
responsible for computer network operations in support
of national security requirements.
Strategic Intelligence assists senior military and civilian
leaders in developing national strategy and policy; monitors the
• Military service intelligence components collect and
international situation; helps with developing military plans;
analyze strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence
assists in determining major weapon systems and force structure
supporting the requirements of the military services
requirements; and supports the conduct of strategic operations.
jointly and separately. Tactical and operational
Operational Intelligence focuses on military capabilities and
intelligence supports military commanders and deployed
intentions of adversaries; analyzes the operational environment;
warfighters. National military service intelligence
identifies adversary centers of gravity and critical vulnerabilities;
organizations, such as the Navy’s Office of Naval
monitors events in the joint force commander’s area of interest;
Intelligence, specialize in long-range threat analysis and
and supports the planning and conduct of joint campaigns and
strategic intelligence assessments that can, among other
operations.
things, support defense platform and weapons systems
Tactical Intelligence supports military commanders in the
development.
planning and execution of battles, engagements, and other joint
•
force activities; and provides commanders with information on
CIA collects, analyzes, and disseminates foreign
imminent threats and changes in the operational environment.
intelligence and counterintelligence in support of a
broad range of senior national security consumers
Source: CRS adapted from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Joint
including the President, NSC, and military. In addition
Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, May 26, 2022, pp. I-15—I-19.
to its clandestine and overt collection activities, CIA
historically has been the leading agency in conducting
covert action as directed by the President.
Relevant Statutes
•
Title 10, U.S. Code, Chapter 21 – DOD Intelligence Matters
Other non-DOD elements within the Departments of
Title 50, U.S. Code, Chapter 44 – National Security
Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and the
Treasury provide intelligence in support of the national

requirements particular to national security threats
related to the mission of each department.
Related CRS Products
IC Leadership
CRS In Focus IF10523, Defense Primer: Under Secretary of
Defense for Intelligence and Security, by Michael E. DeVine
Together, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and
CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense Primer: Budgeting for National
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security
and Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine
(USD[I&S]) coordinate programs and activities across the
IC to promote an integrated approach to intelligence
CRS In Focus IF10574, Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to
collection, analysis, and dissemination.
Military Operations, by Michael E. DeVine
CRS Report R45175, Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of
Director of National Intelligence
the Intelligence Community: Selected Definitions, by Michael E.
The DNI is the principal advisor to the President on
DeVine
intelligence matters, a position established by the
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004

(IRTPA; P.L. 108-458). The core mission of the DNI and,
Other Resources
by extension, the ODNI is to spearhead intelligence
integration and collaboration among the diverse elements of
DOD, Joint Publication 2-0, Joint Intelligence, May 26, 2022
the IC.
DOD, Joint Publication 2-01, Joint and National Intelligence
Support to Military Operations, July 5, 2017
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and
Security (USD[I&S])/Director of Defense

Intelligence (DDI)
The USD(I&S) position is dual-hatted: When acting as the
Michael E. DeVine, Analyst in Intelligence and National
USD(I&S), the incumbent reports directly to the Secretary
of Defense and serves as the Secretary’s principal staff
Security
assistant for intelligence, counterintelligence, and security.
IF10525
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Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence


Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10525 · VERSION 13 · UPDATED

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