Authorities of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI)

Authorities of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI)As specified in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the authorities of the DNI include the following: Provision of IntelligenceThe DNI is responsible for ensuring that national intelligence is provided to the President, the heads of departments and agencies of the executive branch, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior military commanders, the Senate and House of Representatives, and such others as the DNI deems appropriate.Access to IntelligenceUnless otherwise directed by the President, the DNI has access to all national intelligence and intelligence related to the national security which is collected by any Federal department, agency, or other entity, except as otherwise provided by law or, as appropriate, under guidelines agreed upon by the Attorney General and the DNI.Budget Build and ExecutionThe DNI develops and determines an annual budget for the National Intelligence Program (NIP) based on budget proposals provided by the heads of agencies and organizations of the IC and their respective department heads. The Director ensures the effective execution of the annual budget for intelligence and intelligence-related activities. The Director monitors the implementation and execution of the NIP by the heads of elements of the IC that manage NIP programs or activities, including with audits and evaluations. Transfer and Reprogramming of FundsNIP funds may not be transferred or reprogrammed without approval of the DNI, except in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Director.Transfer of PersonnelFor the first 12 months after a new national intelligence center is created, the DNI may transfer 100 personnel authorized for elements of the IC to that center. The Director may also transfer unlimited numbers of personnel authorized for an element of the IC to another such element for a period of not more than two years.Tasking and AnalysisThe Director establishes objectives and priorities for the IC and manages and directs tasking of collection, analysis, production, and dissemination of national intelligence. The DNI approves requirements for collection and analysis, including requirements responding to the needs of consumers. The DNI also provides advisory tasking to intelligence elements outside of the NIP. The Director may establish national intelligence centers as the DNI determines necessary.Intelligence Information SharingThe DNI has principal authority to ensure maximum availability of and access to intelligence information within the Intelligence Community consistent with national security requirements.AnalysisTo ensure the most accurate analysis of intelligence is derived from all sources to support national security needs, the DNI implements appropriate policies and procedures; ensures that resource allocation for intelligence analysis is appropriately proportional to resource allocation for intelligence collection systems and operations; ensures that differences in analytic judgment are fully considered and brought to the attention of policymakers; and ensures that sufficient relationships are established between intelligence collectors and analysts to facilitate greater understanding of the needs of analysts.Protection of Sources and Methods/ClassificationThe DNI protects sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure and, in order to maximize the dissemination of intelligence, establishes and implements guidelines for classification under applicable law, Executive orders, or Presidential directives.Uniform Procedures for Sensitive Compartmented InformationThe DNI, subject to the direction of the President, establishes uniform standards and procedures for the grant of access to sensitive compartmented information (SCI); ensures the consistent implementation of those standards and procedures; ensures that security clearances granted by individual elements of the IC are recognized by all elements of the Community, and under contracts entered into by those agencies; and ensures that the process for investigation and adjudication of an application for access to SCI is performed in the most expeditious manner possible consistent with applicable standards for national security.Foreign LiaisonThe DNI oversees the coordination of relationships with the intelligence or security services of foreign governments or international organizations. Enhanced Personnel ManagementThe DNI, in consultation with the heads of other agencies or elements of the IC, develops personnel policies and programs to enhance the capacity for joint operation and to facilitate staffing of community management functions.Acquisition/MilestoneThe DNI has exclusive milestone decision authority for NIP-funded major systems, except that with respect to Department of Defense programs the DNI has joint authority with the Secretary of Defense. If the DNI and the Secretary of Defense are unable to reach agreement on a milestone decision, the President resolves the conflict.Consideration of Views of Elements of the Intelligence CommunityThe DNI takes into account the views of a head of a department containing an element of the Intelligence Community and of the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.Responsibility Regarding NIP Budget Concerning the Department of DefenseSubject to the direction of the President, the DNI, after consultation with the Secretary of Defense, ensures that the NIP budgets for the elements of the IC that are within the Department of Defense are adequate to satisfy the national intelligence needs of the Department of Defense, including the needs of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders of the unified and specified commands, and wherever such elements are performing Government-wide functions, the needs of other Federal departments and agencies.Acquisitions of Major SystemsFor each intelligence program within the NIP for the acquisition of a major system, the DNI requires the development and implementation of a program management plan that includes cost, schedule, and performance goals and program milestone criteria, except that with respect to Department of Defense programs the Director shall consult with the Secretary of Defense; serves as exclusive milestone decision authority, except that with respect to Department of Defense programs the Director shall serve as milestone decision authority jointly with the Secretary of Defense or the designee of the Secretary; and periodically reviews and assesses the progress made toward the achievement of the goals and milestones established in such plan; and submits to Congress a report on the results of such review and assessment.Common ServicesThe DNI, in consultation with department heads, coordinates the performance by elements of the IC of services of common concern to the Community that the DNI determines can be more efficiently accomplished in a consolidated manner.AppointmentsThe DNI recommends to the President nominees for Principal Deputy DNI and for CIA Director. The DNI has the right to concur in the appointment or the recommendation for nomination of the heads of NSA, NRO, and NGA; the Assistant Secretary of State for INR; the Directors of the Offices of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at DOE; the Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of the Treasury; the Executive Assistant Director for Intelligence of the FBI; and the Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Information Analysis. The DNI must be consulted for appointments or recommendations for the Director of DIA and the Deputy Assistant Commandant of the Coast Guard for Intelligence.