The Director of National Intelligence

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is a senior, cabinet-level official of the federal government of the United States, and serves when called upon as an advisor to the President of the United States. The DNI serves as the executive head of the United States Intelligence Community (US IC; or IC), and directs and oversees the National Intelligence Program (NIP).

History

The DNI is a position created in 2004, during the term of President George W. Bush, through the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. On July 30, 2008, President Bush strengthened the role of the DNI through Executive Order 13470, giving the DNI the authority to set goals for the entire IC, and to set policy for intelligence sharing with foreign agencies. EO 13470 also put the hiring and firing of senior intelligence officials in the hands of the DNI.