7. Intelligence Community (Summary)

Author: Dustin J. Carmack

Summary

• The U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) is composed of 18 independent and cabinet subagencies tasked with collecting, analyzing, and delivering foreign and counterintelligence to America’s leaders.
• A future conservative President should aggressively use intelligence authorities to counter adversaries like Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China while maintaining effective counterterrorism tools.
• The IC must be depoliticized and focus on emerging threats, technologies, and methodologies rather than overcorrecting past mistakes.
• The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) was created after 9/11 to coordinate the IC but has faced challenges due to ambiguous authorities.
• The ODNI needs stronger budget and personnel control to effectively manage the IC and support the President’s intelligence priorities.
• There are issues of infighting, redundancies, and lack of accountability within the IC that need addressing, including the spread of “woke” culture and risk aversion.
• Executive Order 12333, which governs the IC, should be updated to address modern threats such as cyber warfare and to clarify the roles and responsibilities of various agencies.
• The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) must be reformed to ensure its operations are in line with the President’s agenda and to address bureaucracy, recruitment challenges, and ideological biases.
• Covert action remains a critical tool for advancing U.S. foreign policy, and the President must ensure that such actions are aligned with broader policy goals.
• The IC’s structure, particularly regarding the ODNI and CIA, needs reevaluation to improve efficiency, reduce bureaucratic bloat, and attract diverse talent.
• Safeguards must be implemented to prevent the misuse of intelligence for partisan purposes, and intelligence operations should prioritize national security over political considerations.
• The IC should enhance its focus on China, investing in technology, personnel, and partnerships to counter China’s advancements and influence.
• Counterintelligence efforts need to be strengthened, particularly in protecting against espionage in universities, corporations, and other non-governmental entities.
• The chapter highlights the need for reforms in security clearance processes, declassification, and the handling of classified information, advocating for a more streamlined and technology-driven approach.

Analysis

• Increased Presidential Control: If the proposed reforms are implemented, the U.S. President would have greater control over the Intelligence Community, potentially leading to more direct and aggressive actions against global adversaries.
• Depoliticization Efforts: The emphasis on removing political biases from intelligence operations could restore public trust but might also lead to significant restructuring and possible conflicts within the IC.
• Focus on China: A shift in resources and attention towards countering China could enhance U.S. strategic capabilities but may strain relations with other global powers and require significant investment.
• Revised Executive Orders: Updating Executive Order 12333 to reflect current threats could streamline operations but may face legal and bureaucratic challenges in implementation.
• Potential for Conflict: The removal of “woke” culture and focus on traditional values within the IC could create internal tensions and resistance from various segments of the workforce.

Tags

• Intelligence Community Reform
• U.S. National Security
• China Threat
• Depoliticization of Intelligence
• Executive Order 12333

Read the original chapter text here: https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf#page=234

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