The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is a United States cabinet-level post which will coordinate all 15 components of the Intelligence Community and be the principal intelligence adviser to the president. Creating the post of DNI was one of the recommendations in the report by the House-Senate Intelligence Committee investigating the September 11 attacks.

On February 17, 2005, President George W. Bush named U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte to the post, pending confirmation by the Senate. It has been reported that President Bush's first choice for Director of National Intelligence was former Central Intelligence Agency director Robert M. Gates, who declined the nomination.

Previously, the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) oversaw the Intelligence Community and served as the principal intelligence adviser to the president, in addition to serving as head of the Central Intelligence Agency. When the post of DNI is filled, the DCI's title will become Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (DCIA), and that post will serve only as head of the CIA.

Legislative background

The House of Representatives and the Senate passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 by votes of 336-75 and 89-2, respectively, and President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on December 17, 2004. The act created the post of DNI, established a counterterrorism center, and attempted to ease communication between different branches and agencies of the government.

Critics say compromises during the bill's crafting weakened the DNI to a figurehead with little control over the Pentagon's intelligence organizations. [1]

External links

• Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
• Sen. Feinstein proposes a new Director of National Intelligence
• U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein - Democratic Homeland Security Bill Includes Feinstein Provision to Create Director of National Intelligence
• CIA chief: New intelligence czar unnecessary
• Challenges await new spy chief
• The National Security Archive: From Director of Central Intelligence to Director of National Intelligence