A New DNI Directive on the National Intelligence Council
The Director of National Intelligence this week issued a new Intelligence Community Directive (pdf) that defines the structure and mission of the National Intelligence Council (NIC).
“The NIC consists of the senior-most intelligence analysts supporting the DNI in carrying out responsibilities as head of the IC and as the principal adviser to the President, the NSC, and the HSC for intelligence matters related to national security,” the directive explains.
“The NIC produces coordinated assessments of the IC’s views on critical national security issues. The NIC’s flagship product is the National Intelligence Estimate, which provides the authoritative written judgments of the IC on national security issues for the United States Government.”
See Intelligence Community Directive ICD-207, “National Intelligence Council,” June 9, 2008.
The most recent unclassified product of the NIC that has been publicly disclosed is “Disruptive Civil Technologies: Six Technologies With Potential Impacts on US Interests Out to 2025” (pdf), Conference Report, April 2008.
When a hurricane hits, it’s all hands on deck – that goes for federal data, too. Pulling back from our investments in timely, accurate, and accessible public data will only make us less prepared and put us all at greater risk.
This is bigger than a singular elimination of race and ethnicity questions. It could accelerate the second wave of widespread reductions to demographic data, leaving public health officials with even less information to deliver better health outcomes for all Americans.
Soft law was never meant to be a permanent solution. Treating it as one, and letting the sandcastle stand in for the skyscraper indefinitely, is how we end up with a decade of voluntary commitments and no enforceable accountability to show for it.
FAS has partnered with ICLEI USA to launch the CRI Local Advisory Council.