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EO 13355Executive OrderG.W. Bush · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 13355

Strengthened Management of the Intelligence Community

This executive order strengthens the Director of Central Intelligence's authority over the Intelligence Community by amending Executive Order 12333 to enhance intelligence sharing, establish counterterrorism as the highest national security priority, centralize budget control over the National Foreign Intelligence Program, and give the Director concurrence or recommendation authority over senior intelligence appointments. It also mandates new personnel standards and requires the Attorney General to establish information-sharing procedures with the Director within 90 days.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 53593

Impact dates

  1. Director reports to President semiannually on NFIP implementation effectiveness

  2. Director issues standards and qualifications for Intelligence Community personnel

  3. Attorney General agrees to procedures ensuring Director receives relevant intelligence from FBI, DHS, and other agencies

Key directives

  • Amend EO 12333 to strengthen Director's role as principal intelligence adviser to President, NSC, and HSC
  • Establish common security/access standards with priority on terrorist threat information sharing
  • Establish national centers for highest-priority threats, with counterterrorism automatically designated
  • Ensure agencies provide Director access to all relevant intelligence on transnational terrorism and WMD proliferation
  • Centralize NFIP budget development and approval authority with Director
  • Grant Director transfer and reprogramming authority over NFIP funds
  • Require Director concurrence on senior intelligence appointments made by department heads
  • Require Director recommendations for presidential appointments and nominations
  • Issue personnel standards and qualifications for Intelligence Community

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Amendments to EO 12333 take effect
  • Counterterrorism designated highest national security priority for national centers
  • Director's strengthened advisory and budget authorities become active

Near term (90d)

  • Attorney General must agree to information-sharing procedures with Director by November 25, 2004
  • Director must issue personnel standards and qualifications by December 25, 2004

Long term

  • Semiannual reporting to President on NFIP effectiveness begins
  • Integrated professional development system across Intelligence Community
  • Interoperable information sharing enterprise implementation

Risks & tensions

  • Potential friction between Director and Secretary of Defense over collection tasking authority and JMIP/TIARA budget control
  • Attorney General information-sharing procedures may involve unresolved tensions between intelligence sharing and law enforcement sensitivities
  • Director's concurrence authority over appointments could create bureaucratic delays or disputes with department heads
  • Budget transfer authority 'consistent with applicable law' leaves scope of authority uncertain pending OMB and congressional dynamics
  • Privacy protections referenced but not defined; tension with information-sharing mandate unclear in text
Executive Order 13355: Strengthened Management of the Intelligence Community · Executive Orders