1
For further detail on various legislative proposals, see CRS Report RL32600, Comparison of
9/11 Commission Recommended Intelligence Reforms, Roberts Draft Bill, H.R. 4104, S. 190, S.
1520, S. 6, H.R. 4584, Current Law; also, CRS Report RL32601, Comparison of 9/11
Commission Recommended Intelligence Reforms, Collins/Lieberman Draft Bill, S. 2774, H.R.
5024, Administration Proposal, and Current Law.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Order Code RS21948
Updated February 11, 2005
The Director of National Intelligence and
Intelligence Analysis
Richard A. Best, Jr.
Specialist in National Defense
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
The 9/11 Commission made a number of recommendations to improve the quality
of intelligence analysis. A key recommendation was the establishment of a Director of
National Intelligence (DNI) position to manage the national intelligence effort and serve
as the principal intelligence adviser to the President — along with a separate director of
the Central Intelligence Agency. Subsequently, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004, P.L. 108-458, made the DNI the principal adviser to the
President on intelligence and made the DNI responsible for coordinating community-
wide intelligence estimates. Some observers note that separating the DNI from the
analytical offices may complicate the overall analytical effort. This report will be
updated as new information becomes available.
Background
The fundamental responsibility of intelligence services is to provide information to
support policymakers and military commanders. In reviewing the performance of the U.S.
Intelligence Community prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the 9/11
Commission, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States,
concluded that greater coordination of the nation’s intelligence effort is required to
enhance the collection and analysis of information. Specifically, the 9/11 Commission
recommended that a new position of National Intelligence Director (NID) be established
to ensure greater inter-agency coordination. A number of legislative proposals were
introduced in 2004 to establish such an office separate from the Director of the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA).
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