§3001. Short title
Primary source
Verbatim text below is from the United States Code (GovInfo), a public-domain U.S. government work.
Full Text
§3001. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the "National Security Act of 1947".
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, 61 Stat. 495, known as the National Security Act of 1947, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
Codification
Section was formerly classified as a note under section 401 of this title prior to editorial reclassification as this section.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Pub. L. 108–458, title I, §1081, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3696, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment; Transition Provisions
Pub. L. 108–458, title I, subtitle H, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3697, as amended by Pub. L. 109–13, div. A, title I, §1009, May 11, 2005, 119 Stat. 244; Pub. L. 117–263, div. F, title LXIV, §6403, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3525, provided that:
"SEC. 1091. TRANSFER OF COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT STAFF.
"(a)
"(b)
"SEC. 1092. TRANSFER OF TERRORIST THREAT INTEGRATION CENTER.
"(a)
"(b)
"SEC. 1093. TERMINATION OF POSITIONS OF ASSISTANT DIRECTORS OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) The Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Collection.
"(2) The Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Analysis and Production.
"(3) The Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Administration.
"SEC. 1094. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
"The President shall transmit to Congress a plan for the implementation of this title [see Tables for classification] and the amendments made by this title. The plan shall address, at a minimum, the following:
"(1) The transfer of personnel, assets, and obligations to the Director of National Intelligence pursuant to this title.
"(2) Any consolidation, reorganization, or streamlining of activities transferred to the Director of National Intelligence pursuant to this title.
"(3) The establishment of offices within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to implement the duties and responsibilities of the Director of National Intelligence as described in this title.
"(4) Specification of any proposed disposition of property, facilities, contracts, records, and other assets and obligations to be transferred to the Director of National Intelligence.
"(5) Recommendations for additional legislative or administrative action as the President considers appropriate.
"SEC. 1095. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY REFORM.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
"(2) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
"SEC. 1096. TRANSITIONAL AUTHORITIES.
"(a)
"(2) The records of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence may not be dispositioned pursuant to paragraph (1) without the authorization of the Director of National Intelligence.
"(b)
"(1) is authorized within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence the total of 500 new personnel positions; and
"(2) with the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, may detail not more than 150 personnel funded within the National Intelligence Program to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for a period of not more than 2 years.
"SEC. 1097. EFFECTIVE DATES.
"(a)
"(b)
"(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence.
"(2) Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this Act [probably means the effective date of title I of Pub. L. 108–458, see above], the President shall transmit to Congress the implementation plan required by section 1094.
"(3) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 17, 2004], the Director of National Intelligence shall prescribe regulations, policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines required under section 102A of the National Security Act of 1947 [50 U.S.C. 3024], as amended by section 1011(a) of this Act."
[Functions of President under section 1094 of Pub. L. 108–458, set out in a note above, assigned to the Director of National Intelligence by section 3 of Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 21, 2005, 70 F.R. 48633, set out as a note under section 301 of Title 3, The President.]
Short Title of 2018 Amendment
Pub. L. 115–173, §1, May 22, 2018, 132 Stat. 1291, provided that: "This Act [enacting provisions set out as a note under section 3161 of this title] may be cited as the 'Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2018' or the 'SECRET Act of 2018'."
Short Title of 2012 Amendment
Pub. L. 112–235, §1, Dec. 28, 2012, 126 Stat. 1626, provided that: "This Act [amending provisions set out as a note under section 3161 of this title] may be cited as the 'Public Interest Declassification Board Reauthorization Act of 2012'."
Short Title of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–458, §1(a), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3638, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004'."
Pub. L. 108–458, title I, §1001, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3643, provided that: "This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'National Security Intelligence Reform Act of 2004'."
Short Title of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–293, title VIII, §801, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3474, provided that: "This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Intelligence Renewal and Reform Act of 1996'."
Short Title of 1994 Amendment
Pub. L. 103–359, title VIII, §801, Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3434, provided that: "This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Counterintelligence and Security Enhancements Act of 1994'."
Short Title of 1992 Amendment
Pub. L. 102–496, title VII, §701, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3188, provided that: "This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Intelligence Organization Act of 1992'."
Short Title of 1984 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–477, §1, Oct. 15, 1984, 98 Stat. 2209, provided: "That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Central Intelligence Agency Information Act'."
Short Title of 1982 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–200, §1, June 23, 1982, 96 Stat. 122, provided: "That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982'."
Short Title of 1949 Amendment
Act Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §1, 63 Stat. 578, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'National Security Act Amendments of 1949'."
Sections of National Security Act of 1947, which were classified to former Title 5, were repealed and restated in Title 10, Armed Forces, except as noted, as follows:
| Section of former Title 5 | Section of Title 10 |
|---|---|
| 171 | 131, 133. |
| 171a(a), (b) | 133. |
| 171a(c) | 125, 136, 141, 3010, 3012, 5011, 5031, 8010, 8012. |
| 171a(d) | 133. |
| 171a(e) | 132. |
| 171a(f) | 133. |
| 171a(g)–(i) | [Omitted]. |
| 171a(j) | 124. |
| 171c | 134, 135, 136, 718, 2358. |
| 171c–1, 171c–2 | [Repealed]. |
| 171d | 1580. |
| 171e | 171. |
| 171f | 141, 142. |
| 171g | 143. |
| 171h | 2201. |
| 171i | 2351. |
| 171j | 173. |
| 172 | 136. |
| 172a | 3014, 5061, 8014. |
| 172b | 2203. |
| 172c | 2204. |
| 172d | 2208. |
| 172e | 2209. |
| 172f | 126. |
| 172g | 2205. |
| 172h | 2206. |
| 172i | 2701. |
| 181–1 | 101, 3011, 3012, 3062, T. 50 §409. |
| 181–2 | 3012. |
| 411a(a) | 101; T. 50 §409. |
| 411a(b) | 5012. |
| 411a(c) | 5013, 5402. |
| 626(a) | 8012. |
| 626(b) | [Repealed]. |
| 626(c) | 101; T. 50 §409. |
| 626(d) | 8013. |
| 626(e) | 8012. |
| 626(f) | 8033. |
| 626(g) | 8011. |
| 626a | 8012. |
| 626b | 8013. |
| 626c | 743, 8062. |
Savings Provisions
Pub. L. 108–487, title VIII, §803, Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3962, provided that:
"(a)
"(2) During the period referred to in paragraph (1) any reference in this Act or the amendments made by this Act to the Director of National Intelligence shall be considered to be a reference to the Director of Central Intelligence, as the head of the intelligence community.
"(3) Upon the appointment of an individual as Director of National Intelligence under section 102 of the National Security Act of 1947, as so amended, any reference in this Act, or in the classified annex to accompany this Act, to the Director of Central Intelligence as head of the intelligence community shall be deemed to be a reference to the Director of National Intelligence.
"(b)
"(2) Upon the appointment of an individual as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency under section 104A of the National Security Act of 1947, as so amended, any reference in this Act, or in the classified annex to accompany this Act, to the Director of Central Intelligence as head of the Central Intelligence Agency shall be deemed to be a reference to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency."
Act Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §12(g), 63 Stat. 591, provided: "All laws, orders, regulations, and other actions relating to the National Military Establishment, the Departments of the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force, or to any officer or activity of such establishment or such departments, shall, except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this Act [see Tables for classification], have the same effect as if this Act had not been enacted; but, after the effective date of this Act [Aug. 10, 1949], any such law, order, regulation, or other action which vested functions in or otherwise related to any officer, department, or establishment, shall be deemed to have vested such function in or relate to the officer or department, executive or military, succeeding the officer, department, or establishment in which such function was vested. For purposes of this subsection the Department of Defense shall be deemed the department succeeding the National Military Establishment, and the military departments of Army, Navy, and Air Force shall be deemed the departments succeeding the Executive Departments of Army, Navy, and Air Force."
Separability
Pub. L. 108–458, title I, §1103, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3700, provided that: "If any provision of this Act [see Tables for classification], or an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this Act, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other those to which such provision is held invalid shall not be affected thereby."
Construction of References to Director of Central Intelligence
Pub. L. 108–487, title VIII, §802, Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3962, provided that: "Except as otherwise specifically provided or otherwise provided by context, any reference in this Act [see Effective Date of 2004 Amendments note set out under section 2656f of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse], or in the classified annex to accompany this Act, to the Director of Central Intelligence shall be deemed to be a reference to the Director of Central Intelligence as head of the intelligence community."
Anomalous Health Incidents Interagency Coordinator
Pub. L. 117–81, div. F, title LXVI, §6603, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2438, provided that:
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) coordinate the response of the United States Government to such incidents;
"(B) coordinate among relevant Federal agencies to ensure equitable and timely access to assessment and care for affected United States Government personnel, dependents of such personnel, and other appropriate individuals;
"(C) ensure adequate training and education relating to such incidents for United States Government personnel;
"(D) ensure that information regarding such incidents is efficiently shared across relevant Federal agencies in a manner that provides appropriate protections for classified, sensitive, and personal information;
"(E) coordinate, in consultation with the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the technological and research efforts of the United States Government to address suspected attacks presenting as such incidents; and
"(F) develop policy options to prevent, mitigate, and deter suspected attacks presenting as such incidents.
"(b)
"(1)
"(A) serve as the Anomalous Health Incident Agency Coordination Lead (in this section referred to as the 'Agency Coordination Lead') for the relevant agency concerned;
"(B) report directly to the head of such relevant agency regarding activities carried out under this section;
"(C) perform functions specific to such relevant agency and related to anomalous health incidents, consistent with the directives of the Interagency Coordinator and the interagency national security process;
"(D) represent such relevant agency in meetings convened by the Interagency Coordinator; and
"(E) participate in interagency briefings to Congress regarding the response of the United States Government to anomalous health incidents, including briefings required under subsection (c).
"(2)
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) an update on the investigation into anomalous health incidents affecting United States Government personnel and dependents of such personnel, including technical causation and suspected perpetrators;
"(B) an update on new or persistent anomalous health incidents;
"(C) a description of threat prevention and mitigation efforts with respect to anomalous health incidents, to include personnel training;
"(D) an identification of any changes to operational posture as a result of anomalous health threats;
"(E) an update on diagnosis and treatment efforts for individuals affected by anomalous health incidents, including patient numbers and wait times to access care;
"(F) a description of efforts to improve and encourage reporting of anomalous health incidents;
"(G) a detailed description of the roles and responsibilities of the Agency Coordination Leads;
"(H) information regarding additional authorities or resources needed to support the interagency response to anomalous health incidents; and
"(I) such other matters as the Interagency Coordinator or the Agency Coordination Leads may consider appropriate.
"(3)
"(A)
"(B)
"(d)
"(1) develops a process to provide a secure mechanism for personnel of the relevant agency concerned, the dependents of such personnel, and other appropriate individuals, to self-report any suspected exposure that could be an anomalous health incident;
"(2) shares all relevant data reported through such mechanism in a timely manner with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and other relevant agencies, through existing processes coordinated by the Interagency Coordinator; and
"(3) in developing the mechanism pursuant to paragraph (1), prioritizes secure information collection and handling processes to protect classified, sensitive, and personal information.
"(e)
"(1)
"(A) the threat posed by anomalous health incidents;
"(B) known defensive techniques with respect to anomalous health incidents; and
"(C) processes to self-report any suspected exposure that could be an anomalous health incident.
"(2)
"(f)
"(g)
"(1) increase capacity and staffing for the Health Incident Response Task Force of the Department of State;
"(2) support the development and implementation of efforts by the Department of State to prevent and mitigate anomalous health incidents affecting the workforce of the Department;
"(3) investigate and characterize the cause of anomalous health incidents, including investigations of causation and attribution;
"(4) collect and analyze data related to anomalous health incidents;
"(5) coordinate with other relevant agencies and the National Security Council regarding anomalous health incidents; and
"(6) support other activities to understand, prevent, deter, and respond to suspected attacks presenting as anomalous health incidents, at the discretion of the Secretary of State.
"(h)
"(1) The term 'appropriate congressional committees' means—
"(A) the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Judiciary, and Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence, of the Senate; and
"(B) the Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, the Judiciary, and Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, of the House of Representatives.
"(2) The term 'relevant Federal agencies' means—
"(A) the Department of Defense;
"(B) the Department of State;
"(C) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence;
"(D) the Central Intelligence Agency;
"(E) the Department of Justice;
"(F) the Department of Homeland Security; and
"(G) such other Federal departments or agencies as may be designated by the Interagency Coordinator."
Consideration of Adversarial Telecommunications and Cybersecurity Infrastructure When Sharing Intelligence With Foreign Governments and Entities
Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXIII, §6307, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2189, provided that: "Whenever the head of an element of the intelligence community enters into an intelligence-sharing agreement with a foreign government or any other foreign entity, the head of the element shall consider the pervasiveness of telecommunications and cybersecurity infrastructure, equipment, and services provided by adversaries of the United States, particularly China and Russia, or entities of such adversaries in the country or region of the foreign government or other foreign entity entering into the agreement."
[For definition of "intelligence community" as used in section 6307 of Pub. L. 116–92, set out above, see section 5003 of div. E of Pub. L. 116–92, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.]
Committee to Counter Active Measures by the Russian Federation To Exert Covert Influence Over Peoples and Governments
Pub. L. 115–31, div. N, title V, §501, May 5, 2017, 131 Stat. 823, which established an interagency committee to counter active measures by the Russian Federation to exert covert influence within the executive branch and was formerly set out as a note under this section, was transferred to section 3369d of this title.
Charter for the National Reconnaissance Office
Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title X, §1035, Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2450, provided that: "Not later than February 1, 2010, the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives], the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate a revised charter for the National Reconnaissance Office (in this section referred to as the 'NRO'). The charter shall include the following:
"(1) The organizational and governance structure of the NRO.
"(2) The role of the NRO in the development and generation of requirements and acquisition.
"(3) The scope of the capabilities of the NRO.
"(4) The roles and responsibilities of the NRO and the relationship of the NRO to other organizations and agencies in the intelligence and defense communities."
Incorporation of Reporting Requirements
Pub. L. 108–177, title I, §106, Dec. 13, 2003, 117 Stat. 2604, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
"(2) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives."
Similar provisions were contained in Pub. L. 107–306, title I, §108, Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2388.
National Commission for Review of Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community
Pub. L. 111–259, title VII, §701(a)(3), Oct. 7, 2010, 124 Stat. 2745, provided that membership of the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community established by section 1002(a) of Pub. L. 107–306 [formerly set out in a note below] should be considered vacant and new members should be appointed in accordance with such section 1002.
Pub. L. 107–306, title X, Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2437, as amended by Pub. L. 108–177, title III, §315(a), Dec. 13, 2003, 117 Stat. 2610; Pub. L. 111–259, title VII, §701(a)(1), (4), (b)(3), (c), Oct. 7, 2010, 124 Stat. 2744, 2745; Pub. L. 112–277, title V, §502, Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2476, established the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community to review the status of research and development programs and activities within the intelligence community, including advanced research and development programs and activities, required the Commission to submit a final report of its review to the congressional intelligence committees, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense not later than Mar. 31, 2013, and provided that the Commission would terminate at the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date that the final report was transmitted to the congressional intelligence committees.
National Commission for the Review of the National Reconnaissance Office
Pub. L. 106–120, title VII, Dec. 3, 1999, 113 Stat. 1620, established the National Commission for the Review of the National Reconnaissance Office to review the current organization, practices, and authorities of the National Reconnaissance Office, directed the Commission to submit to the congressional intelligence committees, the Director of Central Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense a final report on such review not later than Nov. 1, 2000, provided that the Commission would terminate at the end of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the final report was transmitted to the congressional intelligence committees, and directed the Director of Central Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense to each submit to the congressional intelligence committees an assessment of the final report not later than 60 days after receipt.
Commission on Roles and Capabilities of United States Intelligence Community
Pub. L. 103–359, title IX, Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3456, related to establishment, composition, duties, reports, powers, payment of expenses, and termination, not later than Mar. 1, 1996, of the Commission on the Roles and Capabilities of the United States Intelligence Community.
National Commission on Defense and National Security
Pub. L. 101–511, title VIII, §8104, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1898, as amended by Pub. L. 102–172, title VIII, §8078, Nov. 26, 1991, 105 Stat. 1189, provided that:
"SECTION 1. This section establishes the National Commission on Defense and National Security.
"SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
"The Congress makes the following findings:
"(1) Recent revolutionary world events require a fundamental reassessment of the defense and national security policies of the United States.
"(2) Emerging democracies around the world will require political, technical, and economic assistance, as well as military assistance, from the developed free nations in order to thrive and to become productive members of the world community.
"(3) Real and potential military threats to the United States and its allies will continue to exist for the foreseeable future from not just the Soviet Union but also from terrorism and from Third World nations.
"(4) Proliferation of both sophisticated conventional weapons and of nuclear weapons could produce a world more dangerous than we have faced in the past.
"(5) Ethnic rivalries as well as economic inequalities may produce instabilities that could spark serious conflict.
"(6) In order to formulate coherent national policies to meet these challenges of a new world environment, it is essential for the United States to achieve a bipartisan consensus such as that which emerged following World War II.
"(7) Such a consensus can be fostered by the development of policy recommendations from a highly respected group of individuals who do not bear a partisan label and who possess critical expertise and experience.
"SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
"There is established a commission to be known as [the] National Commission on Defense and National Security (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the 'Commission'). The Commission is established until 30 days following submission of the final report required by section 6 of this section.
"SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) The world-wide interests, goals, and objectives of the United States that are vital to the national security of the United States.
"(2) The political, economic, and military developments around the world and the implications of those developments for United States national security interests, including—
"(A) the developments in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union;
"(B) the question of German unification;
"(C) the future of NATO and European economic integration;
"(D) the future of the Pacific Basin; and
"(E) potential instability resulting from regional conflicts or economic problems in the developing world.
"(3) The foreign policy, world-wide commitments, and national defense capabilities of the United States necessary to deter aggression and implement the national security strategy of the United States, including the contribution that can be made by bilateral and multilateral political and economic associations in promoting interests that the United States shares with other members of the world community.
"(4) The proposed short-term uses of the political, economic, military, and other elements of national power for the United States to protect or promote the interests and to achieve the goals and objectives referred to in paragraph (1).
"(5) Long-term options that should be considered further for a number of potential courses of world events over the remainder of the century and into the next century.
"SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
"(a)
"(1) Three appointed by the President.
"(2) Three appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
"(3) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
"(4) Two appointed by the majority leader of the Senate.
"(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(f)
"(g)
"(h)
"SEC. 6. REPORTS.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"SEC. 7. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"SEC. 8. POWERS OF COMMISSION
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(f)
"SEC. 9. INITIAL FUNDING OF COMMISSION.
"If funds are not otherwise available for the necessary expenses of the Commission for fiscal year 1991, the Secretary of Defense shall make available to the Commission, from funds available to the Secretary for the fiscal year concerned, such funds as the Commission requires. When funds are specifically appropriated for the expenses of the Commission, the Commission shall reimburse the Secretary from such funds for any funds provided to it under the preceding sentence."
[References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, §101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101–509, set out in a note under section 5376 of Title 5.]
Intelligence Priorities and Reorganization
Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title IX, §907, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1622, required the Secretary of Defense and Director of Central Intelligence to conduct a joint review of all intelligence and intelligence-related activities in the Tactical Intelligence and Related Activities programs and the National Foreign Intelligence Program and reduce by not less than 5 percent the number of personnel detailed to such programs during each of fiscal years 1992 through 1996.
Change of Titles of Secretary of Defense, et al.; Reappointment
Act Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §12(f), 63 Stat. 591, provided in part that: "The titles of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of the Air Force, the Under Secretaries and the Assistant Secretaries of the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Chairman of the Munitions Board, and the Chairman of the Research and Development Board, shall not be changed by virtue of this Act [see Tables for classification] and the reappointment of the officials holding such titles on the effective date of this Act [Aug. 10, 1949] shall not be required."
Executive Documents
Reorganization Plan No. 8 of 1949
Act Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §12(i), 63 Stat. 592, provided that: "Reorganization Plan Numbered 8 of 1949, which was transmitted to the Congress by the President on July 18, 1949 [set out in Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees] pursuant to the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949, shall not take effect, notwithstanding the provisions of section 6 of such Reorganization Act of 1949."
Ex. Ord. No. 10431. National Security Medal
Ex. Ord. No. 10431, Jan. 19, 1953, 18 F.R. 437, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13709, §1, Oct. 2, 2015, 80 F.R. 60793, provided:
1. There is hereby established a medal to be known as the National Security Medal with accompanying ribbons and appurtenances. The medal and its appurtenances shall be of appropriate design, approved by the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council.
2. The National Security Medal may be awarded to any person, without regard to nationality, including members of the Armed Forces of the United States, for distinguished achievement or outstanding contribution made on or after July 26, 1947, in the field of national security through either exceptionally meritorious service performed in a position of high responsibility or through an act of heroism requiring personal courage of a high degree and complete disregard of personal safety.
3. The decoration established by this order shall be awarded by the President of the United States or, under regulations approved by him, by such person or persons as he may designate.
4. No more than one National Security Medal shall be awarded to any one person, but for subsequent services justifying an award, a suitable device may be awarded to be worn with the Medal.
5. Members of the armed forces of the United States who are awarded the decoration established by this order are authorized to wear the medal and the ribbon symbolic of the award, as may be authorized by uniform regulations approved by the Secretary of Defense.
6. The decoration established by this order may be awarded posthumously.
7. Any individual having personal knowledge of the facts of a potential recipient's exceptionally meritorious service or act of heroism, either as an eyewitness or from the testimony of others who have personal knowledge or were eyewitnesses, may recommend the potential recipient as a candidate for the award to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council. Any recommendations shall be made with the concurrence of the department or agency employing the proposed recipient, if appropriate, and be accompanied by complete documentation, including, where necessary, certificates, affidavits, or sworn transcripts of testimony. Each recommendation for an award shall show the exact status, at the time of the rendition of the service on which the recommendation is based, with respect to citizenship, employment, and all other material factors of the person who is being recommended for the National Security Medal. Each recommendation shall contain a draft of an appropriate citation to accompany the award of the National Security Medal.
8. Upon a determination by the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council that the National Security Medal is warranted, and following approval by the President, the Executive Secretary shall notify the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which will then process the award recommendation, prepare the National Security Medal, with any appropriate devices, and deliver the National Security Medal to the National Security Council for presentation to the recipient.
Regulations Governing the Award of the National Security Medal
Ex. Ord. No. 13709, §2, Oct. 2, 2015, 80 F.R. 60793, provided that the regulations governing the award of the National Security Medal that were issued pursuant to par. 2 of Ex. Ord. No. 10431 (prior to amendment by Ex. Ord. No. 13709) and published with that order were superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 13709.
Executive Order No. 11905
Ex. Ord. No. 11905, Feb. 18, 1976, 41 F.R. 7703, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11985, May 13, 1977, 42 F.R. 25487; Ex. Ord. No. 11994, June 1, 1977, 42 F.R. 28869, which related to United States foreign intelligence activities, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 12036, Jan. 24, 1978, 43 F.R. 3674, formerly set out below.
Executive Order No. 12036
Ex. Ord. No. 12036, Jan. 24, 1978, 43 F.R. 3674, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12139, May 23, 1979, 44 F.R. 30311, which related to United States foreign intelligence activities, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12333, §3.6, Dec. 4, 1981, 46 F.R. 59954, prior to Ex. Ord. No. 12333 being amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13470, §4(j), July 30, 2008, 73 F.R. 45341.
Foreign Intelligence Electronic Surveillance
For provisions relating to the exercise of certain authority respecting foreign intelligence electronic surveillance, see Ex. Ord. No. 12139, May 23, 1979, 44 F.R. 30311, set out under section 1802 of this title.
Ex. Ord. No. 12333. United States Intelligence Activities
Ex. Ord. No. 12333, Dec. 4, 1981, 46 F.R. 59941, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13284, §18, Jan. 23, 2003, 68 F.R. 4077; Ex. Ord. No. 13355, §§2, 3, 6, Aug. 27, 2004, 69 F.R. 53593; Ex. Ord. No. 13470, §§1–4, July 30, 2008, 73 F.R. 45325, provided:
Executive Order No. 12334
Ex. Ord. No. 12334, Dec. 4, 1981, 46 F.R. 59955, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12701, Feb. 14, 1990, 55 F.R. 5953, which established the President's Intelligence Oversight Board, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12863, §3.3, Sept. 13, 1993, 58 F.R. 48441, formerly set out below.
Executive Order No. 12863
Ex. Ord. No. 12863, Sept. 13, 1993, 58 F.R. 48441, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13070, Dec. 15, 1997, 62 F.R. 66493; Ex. Ord. No. 13301, May 14, 2003, 68 F.R. 26981; Ex. Ord. No. 13376, Apr. 13, 2005, 70 F.R. 20261, which established the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13462, §10, Feb. 29, 2008, 73 F.R. 11808, set out below.
Ex. Ord. No. 13434. National Security Professional Development
Ex. Ord. No. 13434, May 17, 2007, 72 F.R. 28583, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to enhance the national security, it is hereby ordered as follows:
(b) The Steering Committee shall consist exclusively of the following members (or their designees who shall be full-time officers or employees of the members' respective agencies):
(i) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, who shall serve as Chair;
(ii) the Secretary of State;
(iii) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(iv) the Secretary of Defense;
(v) the Attorney General;
(vi) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(vii) the Secretary of Labor;
(viii) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(ix) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(x) the Secretary of Transportation;
(xi) the Secretary of Energy;
(xii) the Secretary of Education;
(xiii) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(xiv) the Director of National Intelligence;
(xv) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and
(xvi) such other officers of the United States as the Chair of the Steering Committee may designate from time to time.
(c) The Steering Committee shall coordinate, to the maximum extent practicable, national security professional development programs and guidance issued by the heads of agencies in order to ensure an integrated approach to such programs.
(d) The Chair of the Steering Committee shall convene and preside at the meetings of the Steering Committee, set its agenda, coordinate its work, and, as appropriate to deal with particular subject matters, establish subcommittees of the Steering Committee that shall consist exclusively of members of the Steering Committee (or their designees under subsection (b) of this section), and such other full-time or permanent part-time officers or employees of the Federal Government as the Chair may designate.
(a) identify and enhance existing national security professional development programs and infrastructure, and establish new programs as necessary, in order to fulfill their respective missions to educate, train, and employ security professionals consistent with the National Strategy and, to the maximum extent practicable, the plan and related guidance from the Steering Committee; and
(b) cooperate with the Steering Committee and provide such information, support, and assistance as the Chair of the Steering Committee may request from time to time.
(i) consistent with applicable merit-based hiring and advancement principles, lead the establishment of a national security professional development program in accordance with the National Strategy and the plan that provides for interagency and intergovernmental assignments and fellowship opportunities and provides for professional development guidelines for career advancement; and
(ii) issue to agencies rules and guidance or apply existing rules and guidance relating to the establishment of national security professional development programs to implement the National Strategy and the plan;
(b) The Secretary of Defense shall issue rules or guidance on professional development programs for Department of Defense military personnel, including interagency and intergovernmental assignments and fellowship opportunities, to implement the National Strategy and the plan, as appropriate, and shall coordinate such programs, to the maximum extent practicable, with the Steering Committee;
(c) The Secretary of State shall issue rules or guidance on national security professional development programs for the Foreign Service, including interagency and intergovernmental exchanges and fellowship opportunities, to implement the National Strategy and the plan, as appropriate, and shall coordinate such programs, to the maximum extent practicable, with the Steering Committee;
(d) The Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the heads of agencies of which elements of the intelligence community are a part, shall issue rules or guidance on national security professional development programs for the intelligence community, including interagency and intergovernmental assignments and fellowship opportunities, to implement the National Strategy and the plan, as appropriate, and shall coordinate such programs, to the maximum extent practicable, with the Steering Committee; and
(e) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop a program to provide to Federal, State, local, and tribal government officials education in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery plans and authorities, and training in crisis decision-making skills, consistent with applicable presidential guidance.
(a) shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and authorities of agencies, or heads of agencies, vested by law, and subject to the availability of appropriations;
(b) shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authorities of any agency, instrumentality, officer, or employee of the United States under applicable law, including the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals, or the functions assigned by the President to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and
(c) is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
George W. Bush.
Ex. Ord. No. 13462. President's Intelligence Advisory Board and Intelligence Oversight Board
Ex. Ord. No. 13462, Feb. 29, 2008, 73 F.R. 11805, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13516, §1, Oct. 28, 2009, 74 F.R. 56521, 57241, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
(a) "department concerned" means an executive department listed in section 101 of title 5, United States Code, that contains an organization listed in or designated pursuant to section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended ([former] 50 U.S.C. 401a(4)) [now 50 U.S.C. 3003(4)];
(b) "intelligence activities" has the meaning specified in section 3.5 of Executive Order 12333 of December 4, 1981, as amended; and
(c) "intelligence community" means the organizations listed in or designated pursuant to section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended.
(b) The PIAB shall consist of not more than 16 members appointed by the President from among individuals who are not full-time employees of the Federal Government.
(c) The President shall designate a Chair or Co-Chairs from among the members of the PIAB, who shall convene and preside at meetings of the PIAB, determine its agenda, and direct its work.
(d) Members of the PIAB and the Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB) established in section 5 of this order:
(i) shall serve without any compensation for their work on the PIAB or the IOB; and
(ii) while engaged in the work of the PIAB or the IOB, may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government (5 U.S.C. 5701–5707).
(e) The PIAB shall utilize such full-time professional and administrative staff as authorized by the Chair and approved by the President or the President's designee. Such staff shall be supervised by an Executive Director of the PIAB, appointed by the President, whom the President may designate to serve also as the Executive Director of the IOB.
(a) assess the quality, quantity, and adequacy of intelligence collection, of analysis and estimates, and of counterintelligence and other intelligence activities, assess the adequacy of management, personnel and organization in the intelligence community, and review the performance of all agencies of the Federal Government that are engaged in the collection, evaluation, or production of intelligence or the execution of intelligence policy and report the results of such assessments or reviews:
(i) to the President, as necessary but not less than twice each year; and
(ii) to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the heads of departments concerned when the PIAB determines appropriate; and
(b) consider and make appropriate recommendations to the President, the DNI, or the head of the department concerned with respect to matters identified to the PIAB by the DNI or the head of a department concerned.
(a) There is hereby established a committee of the PIAB to be known as the Intelligence Oversight Board.
(b) The IOB shall consist of not more than five members of the PIAB who are designated by the President from among members of the PIAB to serve on the IOB. The IOB shall utilize such full-time professional and administrative staff as authorized by the Chair and approved by the President or the President's designee. Such staff shall be supervised by an Executive Director of the IOB, appointed by the President, whom the President may designate to serve also as the Executive Director of the PIAB.
(c) The President shall designate a Chair from among the members of the IOB, who shall convene and preside at meetings of the IOB, determine its agenda, and direct its work.
(a) issue criteria on the thresholds for reporting matters to the IOB, to the extent consistent with section 1.6(c) of Executive Order 12333, as amended[,] or the corresponding provision of any successor order;
(b) inform the President of intelligence activities that the IOB believes:
(i)(A) may be unlawful or contrary to Executive Order or presidential directive; and
(B) are not being adequately addressed by the Attorney General, the DNI, or the head of the department concerned; or
(ii) should be immediately reported to the President.[;]
(c) forward to the Attorney General information concerning intelligence activities that involve possible violations of Federal criminal laws or otherwise implicate the authority of the Attorney General;
(d) review and assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and sufficiency of the processes by which the DNI and the heads of departments concerned perform their respective functions under this order and report thereon as necessary, together with any recommendations, to the President and, as appropriate, the DNI and the head of the department concerned;
(e) receive and review information submitted by the DNI under subsection 7(c) of this order and make recommendations thereon, including for any needed corrective action, with respect to such information, and the intelligence activities to which the information relates, as necessary, but not less than twice each year, to the President, the DNI, and the head of the department concerned; and
(f) conduct, or request that the DNI or the head of the department concerned, as appropriate, carry out and report to the IOB the results of, investigations of intelligence activities that the IOB determines are necessary to enable the IOB to carry out its functions under this order.
(a) with respect to guidelines applicable to organizations within the intelligence community that concern reporting of intelligence activities described in subsection 6(b)(i)(A) of this order:
(i) review and ensure that such guidelines are consistent with section 1.6(c) of Executive Order 12333, as amended, or a corresponding provision of any successor order, and this order; and
(ii) issue for incorporation in such guidelines instructions relating to the format and schedule of such reporting as necessary to implement this order;
(b) with respect to intelligence activities described in subsection 6(b)(i)(A) of this order:
(i) receive reports submitted to the IOB pursuant to section 1.6(c) of Executive Order 12333, as amended, or a corresponding provision of any successor order;
(ii) forward to the Attorney General information in such reports relating to such intelligence activities to the extent that such activities involve possible violations of Federal criminal laws or implicate the authority of the Attorney General unless the DNI or the head of the department concerned has previously provided such information to the Attorney General; and
(iii) monitor the intelligence community to ensure that the head of the department concerned has directed needed corrective actions and that such actions have been taken and report to the IOB and the head of the department concerned, and as appropriate the President, when such actions have not been timely taken; and
(c) submit to the IOB as necessary and no less than twice each year:
(i) an analysis of the reports received under subsection (b)(i) of this section, including an assessment of the gravity, frequency, trends, and patterns of occurrences of intelligence activities described in subsection 6(b)(i)(A) of this order;
(ii) a summary of direction under subsection (b)(iii) of this section and any related recommendations; and
(iii) an assessment of the effectiveness of corrective action taken by the DNI or the head of the department concerned with respect to intelligence activities described in subsection 6(b)(i)(A) of this order.
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the DNI and the heads of departments concerned shall provide such information and assistance as the PIAB and the IOB determine is needed to perform their functions under this order.
(b) The heads of departments concerned shall:
(i) ensure that the DNI receives:
(A) copies of reports submitted to the IOB pursuant to section 1.6(c) of Executive Order 12333, as amended, or a corresponding provision of any successor order; and
(B) such information and assistance as the DNI may need to perform functions under this order; and
(ii) designate the offices within their respective organizations that shall submit reports to the IOB required by Executive Order and inform the DNI and the IOB of such designations; and
(iii) ensure that departments concerned comply with instructions issued by the DNI under subsection 7(a)(ii) of this order.
(c) The head of a department concerned who does not implement a recommendation to that head of department from the PIAB under subsection 4(b) of this order or from the IOB under subsections 6(c) or 6(d) of this order shall promptly report through the DNI to the Board that made the recommendation, or to the President, the reasons for not implementing the recommendation.
(d) The DNI shall ensure that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency performs the functions with respect to the Central Intelligence Agency under this order that a head of a department concerned performs with respect to organizations within the intelligence community that are part of that department.
(b) Individuals who are members of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board under Executive Order 12863 of September 13, 1993, as amended, immediately prior to the signing of this order shall be members of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board immediately upon the signing of this order, to serve as such consistent with this order until the date that is 15 months following the date of this order.
(c) Individuals who are members of the Intelligence Oversight Board under Executive Order 12863 immediately prior to the signing of this order shall be members of the Intelligence Oversight Board under this order, to serve as such consistent with this order until the date that is 15 months following the date of this order.
(d) The individual serving as Executive Director of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board immediately prior to the signing of this order shall serve as the Executive Director of the PIAB until such person resigns, dies, or is removed, or upon appointment of a successor under this order and shall serve as the Executive Director of the IOB until an Executive Director of the IOB is appointed or designated under this order.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) Any person who is a member of the PIAB or the IOB, or who is granted access to classified national security information in relation to the activities of the PIAB or the IOB, as a condition of access to such information, shall sign and comply with appropriate agreements to protect such information from unauthorized disclosure. This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with Executive Order 12958 of April 17, 1995, as amended, and Executive Order 12968 of August 2, 1995, as amended.
(c) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(d) This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
George W. Bush.
Ex. Ord. No. 13732. United States Policy on Pre- and Post-Strike Measures To Address Civilian Casualties in U.S. Operations Involving the Use of Force
Ex. Ord. No. 13732, July 1, 2016, 81 F.R. 44485, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13862, §2, Mar. 6, 2019, 84 F.R. 8789, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct as follows:
The protection of civilians is fundamentally consistent with the effective, efficient, and decisive use of force in pursuit of U.S. national interests. Minimizing civilian casualties can further mission objectives; help maintain the support of partner governments and vulnerable populations, especially in the conduct of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations; and enhance the legitimacy and sustainability of U.S. operations critical to our national security. As a matter of policy, the United States therefore routinely imposes certain heightened policy standards that are more protective than the requirements of the law of armed conflict that relate to the protection of civilians.
Civilian casualties are a tragic and at times unavoidable consequence of the use of force in situations of armed conflict or in the exercise of a state's inherent right of self-defense. The U.S. Government shall maintain and promote best practices that reduce the likelihood of civilian casualties, take appropriate steps when such casualties occur, and draw lessons from our operations to further enhance the protection of civilians.
(a) In particular, relevant agencies shall, consistent with mission objectives and applicable law, including the law of armed conflict:
(i) train personnel, commensurate with their responsibilities, on compliance with legal obligations and policy guidance that address the protection of civilians and on implementation of best practices that reduce the likelihood of civilian casualties, including through exercises, pre-deployment training, and simulations of complex operational environments that include civilians;
(ii) develop, acquire, and field intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems that, by enabling more accurate battlespace awareness, contribute to the protection of civilians;
(iii) develop, acquire, and field weapon systems and other technological capabilities that further enable the discriminate use of force in different operational contexts;
(iv) take feasible precautions in conducting attacks to reduce the likelihood of civilian casualties, such as providing warnings to the civilian population (unless the circumstances do not permit), adjusting the timing of attacks, taking steps to ensure military objectives and civilians are clearly distinguished, and taking other measures appropriate to the circumstances; and
(v) conduct assessments that assist in the reduction of civilian casualties by identifying risks to civilians and evaluating efforts to reduce risks to civilians.
(b) In addition to the responsibilities above, relevant agencies shall also, as appropriate and consistent with mission objectives and applicable law, including the law of armed conflict:
(i) review or investigate incidents involving civilian casualties, including by considering relevant and credible information from all available sources, such as other agencies, partner governments, and nongovernmental organizations, and take measures to mitigate the likelihood of future incidents of civilian casualties;
(ii) acknowledge U.S. Government responsibility for civilian casualties and offer condolences, including ex gratia payments, to civilians who are injured or to the families of civilians who are killed;
(iii) engage with foreign partners to share and learn best practices for reducing the likelihood of and responding to civilian casualties, including through appropriate training and assistance; and
(iv) maintain channels for engagement with the International Committee of the Red Cross and other nongovernmental organizations that operate in conflict zones and encourage such organizations to assist in efforts to distinguish between military objectives and civilians, including by appropriately marking protected facilities, vehicles, and personnel, and by providing updated information on the locations of such facilities and personnel.
(b) No part of this order modifies priorities in the collection of intelligence or the development, acquisition, or fielding of weapon systems and other technological capabilities.
(c) No part of this order shall prejudice or supplant established procedures pertaining to administrative or criminal investigative or judicial processes in the context of the military justice system or other applicable law and regulation.
(d) The policies set forth in this order are consistent with existing U.S. obligations under international law and are not intended to create new international legal obligations; nor shall anything in this order be construed to derogate from obligations under applicable law, including the law of armed conflict.
(e) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Ex. Ord. No. 14086. Enhancing Safeguards for United States Signals Intelligence Activities
Ex. Ord. No. 14086, Oct. 7, 2022, 87 F.R. 62283, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
(a) Principles. Signals intelligence activities shall be authorized and conducted consistent with the following principles:
(i) Signals intelligence activities shall be authorized by statute or by Executive Order, proclamation, or other Presidential directive and undertaken in accordance with the Constitution and with applicable statutes and Executive Orders, proclamations, and other Presidential directives.
(ii) Signals intelligence activities shall be subject to appropriate safeguards, which shall ensure that privacy and civil liberties are integral considerations in the planning and implementation of such activities so that:
(A) signals intelligence activities shall be conducted only following a determination, based on a reasonable assessment of all relevant factors, that the activities are necessary to advance a validated intelligence priority, although signals intelligence does not have to be the sole means available or used for advancing aspects of the validated intelligence priority; and
(B) signals intelligence activities shall be conducted only to the extent and in a manner that is proportionate to the validated intelligence priority for which they have been authorized, with the aim of achieving a proper balance between the importance of the validated intelligence priority being advanced and the impact on the privacy and civil liberties of all persons, regardless of their nationality or wherever they might reside.
(iii) Signals intelligence activities shall be subjected to rigorous oversight in order to ensure that they comport with the principles identified above.
(b) Objectives. Signals intelligence collection activities shall be conducted in pursuit of legitimate objectives.
(i) Legitimate objectives.
(A) Signals intelligence collection activities shall be conducted only in pursuit of one or more of the following objectives:
(1) understanding or assessing the capabilities, intentions, or activities of a foreign government, a foreign military, a faction of a foreign nation, a foreign-based political organization, or an entity acting on behalf of or controlled by any such foreign government, military, faction, or political organization, in order to protect the national security of the United States and of its allies and partners;
(2) understanding or assessing the capabilities, intentions, or activities of foreign organizations, including international terrorist organizations, that pose a current or potential threat to the national security of the United States or of its allies or partners;
(3) understanding or assessing transnational threats that impact global security, including climate and other ecological change, public health risks, humanitarian threats, political instability, and geographic rivalry;
(4) protecting against foreign military capabilities and activities;
(5) protecting against terrorism, the taking of hostages, and the holding of individuals captive (including the identification, location, and rescue of hostages and captives) conducted by or on behalf of a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person;
(6) protecting against espionage, sabotage, assassination, or other intelligence activities conducted by, on behalf of, or with the assistance of a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person;
(7) protecting against threats from the development, possession, or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or related technologies and threats conducted by, on behalf of, or with the assistance of a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person;
(8) protecting against cybersecurity threats created or exploited by, or malicious cyber activities conducted by or on behalf of, a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person;
(9) protecting against threats to the personnel of the United States or of its allies or partners;
(10) protecting against transnational criminal threats, including illicit finance and sanctions evasion related to one or more of the other objectives identified in subsection (b)(i) of this section;
(11) protecting the integrity of elections and political processes, government property, and United States infrastructure (both physical and electronic) from activities conducted by, on behalf of, or with the assistance of a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person; and
(12) advancing collection or operational capabilities or activities in order to further a legitimate objective identified in subsection (b)(i) of this section.
(B) The President may authorize updates to the list of objectives in light of new national security imperatives, such as new or heightened threats to the national security of the United States, for which the President determines that signals intelligence collection activities may be used. The Director of National Intelligence (Director) shall publicly release any updates to the list of objectives authorized by the President, unless the President determines that doing so would pose a risk to the national security of the United States.
(ii) Prohibited objectives.
(A) Signals intelligence collection activities shall not be conducted for the purpose of:
(1) suppressing or burdening criticism, dissent, or the free expression of ideas or political opinions by individuals or the press;
(2) suppressing or restricting legitimate privacy interests;
(3) suppressing or restricting a right to legal counsel; or
(4) disadvantaging persons based on their ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion.
(B) It is not a legitimate objective to collect foreign private commercial information or trade secrets to afford a competitive advantage to United States companies and United States business sectors commercially. The collection of such information is authorized only to protect the national security of the United States or of its allies or partners.
(iii) Validation of signals intelligence collection priorities.
(A) Under section 102A of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended (50 U.S.C. 3024), the Director must establish priorities for the Intelligence Community to ensure the timely and effective collection of national intelligence, including national intelligence collected through signals intelligence. The Director does this through the National Intelligence Priorities Framework (NIPF), which the Director maintains and presents to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, on a regular basis. In order to ensure that signals intelligence collection activities are undertaken to advance legitimate objectives, before presenting the NIPF or any successor framework that identifies intelligence priorities to the President, the Director shall obtain from the Civil Liberties Protection Officer of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (CLPO) an assessment as to whether, with regard to anticipated signals intelligence collection activities, each of the intelligence priorities identified in the NIPF or successor framework:
(1) advances one or more of the legitimate objectives set forth in subsection (b)(i) of this section;
(2) neither was designed nor is anticipated to result in signals intelligence collection in contravention of the prohibited objectives set forth in subsection (b)(ii) of this section; and
(3) was established after appropriate consideration for the privacy and civil liberties of all persons, regardless of their nationality or wherever they might reside.
(B) If the Director disagrees with any aspect of the CLPO's assessment with respect to any of the intelligence priorities identified in the NIPF or successor framework, the Director shall include the CLPO's assessment and the Director's views when presenting the NIPF to the President.
(c) Privacy and civil liberties safeguards. The following safeguards shall fulfill the principles contained in subsections (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) of this section.
(i) Collection of signals intelligence.
(A) The United States shall conduct signals intelligence collection activities only following a determination that a specific signals intelligence collection activity, based on a reasonable assessment of all relevant factors, is necessary to advance a validated intelligence priority, although signals intelligence does not have to be the sole means available or used for advancing aspects of the validated intelligence priority; it could be used, for example, to ensure alternative pathways for validation or for maintaining reliable access to the same information. In determining whether to collect signals intelligence consistent with this principle, the United States—through an element of the Intelligence Community or through an interagency committee consisting in whole or in part of the heads of elements of the Intelligence Community, the heads of departments containing such elements, or their designees—shall consider the availability, feasibility, and appropriateness of other less intrusive sources and methods for collecting the information necessary to advance a validated intelligence priority, including from diplomatic and public sources, and shall prioritize such available, feasible, and appropriate alternatives to signals intelligence.
(B) Signals intelligence collection activities shall be as tailored as feasible to advance a validated intelligence priority and, taking due account of relevant factors, not disproportionately impact privacy and civil liberties. Such factors may include, depending on the circumstances, the nature of the pursued objective; the feasible steps taken to limit the scope of the collection to the authorized purpose; the intrusiveness of the collection activity, including its duration; the probable contribution of the collection to the objective pursued; the reasonably foreseeable consequences to individuals, including unintended third parties; the nature and sensitivity of the data to be collected; and the safeguards afforded to the information collected.
(C) For purposes of subsection (c)(i) of this section, the scope of a specific signals intelligence collection activity may include, for example, a specific line of effort or target, as appropriate.
(ii) Bulk collection of signals intelligence.
(A) Targeted collection shall be prioritized. The bulk collection of signals intelligence shall be authorized only based on a determination—by an element of the Intelligence Community or through an interagency committee consisting in whole or in part of the heads of elements of the Intelligence Community, the heads of departments containing such elements, or their designees—that the information necessary to advance a validated intelligence priority cannot reasonably be obtained by targeted collection. When it is determined to be necessary to engage in bulk collection in order to advance a validated intelligence priority, the element of the Intelligence Community shall apply reasonable methods and technical measures in order to limit the data collected to only what is necessary to advance a validated intelligence priority, while minimizing the collection of non-pertinent information.
(B) Each element of the Intelligence Community that collects signals intelligence through bulk collection shall use such information only in pursuit of one or more of the following objectives:
(1) protecting against terrorism, the taking of hostages, and the holding of individuals captive (including the identification, location, and rescue of hostages and captives) conducted by or on behalf of a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person;
(2) protecting against espionage, sabotage, assassination, or other intelligence activities conducted by, on behalf of, or with the assistance of a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person;
(3) protecting against threats from the development, possession, or proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or related technologies and threats conducted by, on behalf of, or with the assistance of a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person;
(4) protecting against cybersecurity threats created or exploited by, or malicious cyber activities conducted by or on behalf of, a foreign government, foreign organization, or foreign person;
(5) protecting against threats to the personnel of the United States or of its allies or partners; and
(6) protecting against transnational criminal threats, including illicit finance and sanctions evasion related to one or more of the other objectives identified in subsection (c)(ii) of this section.
(C) The President may authorize updates to the list of objectives in light of new national security imperatives, such as new or heightened threats to the national security of the United States, for which the President determines that bulk collection may be used. The Director shall publicly release any updates to the list of objectives authorized by the President, unless the President determines that doing so would pose a risk to the national security of the United States.
(D) In order to minimize any impact on privacy and civil liberties, a targeted signals intelligence collection activity that temporarily uses data acquired without discriminants (for example, without specific identifiers or selection terms) shall be subject to the safeguards described in this subsection, unless such data is:
(1) used only to support the initial technical phase of the targeted signals intelligence collection activity;
(2) retained for only the short period of time required to complete this phase; and
(3) thereafter deleted.
(iii) Handling of personal information collected through signals intelligence.
(A) Minimization. Each element of the Intelligence Community that handles personal information collected through signals intelligence shall establish and apply policies and procedures designed to minimize the dissemination and retention of personal information collected through signals intelligence.
(1) Dissemination. Each element of the Intelligence Community that handles personal information collected through signals intelligence:
(a) shall disseminate non-United States persons' personal information collected through signals intelligence only if it involves one or more of the comparable types of information that section 2.3 of Executive Order 12333 of December 4, 1981 (United States Intelligence Activities), as amended [50 U.S.C. 3001 note], states may be disseminated in the case of information concerning United States persons;
(b) shall not disseminate personal information collected through signals intelligence solely because of a person's nationality or country of residence;
(c) shall disseminate within the United States Government personal information collected through signals intelligence only if an authorized and appropriately trained individual has a reasonable belief that the personal information will be appropriately protected and that the recipient has a need to know the information;
(d) shall take due account of the purpose of the dissemination, the nature and extent of the personal information being disseminated, and the potential for harmful impact on the person or persons concerned before disseminating personal information collected through signals intelligence to recipients outside the United States Government, including to a foreign government or international organization; and
(e) shall not disseminate personal information collected through signals intelligence for the purpose of circumventing the provisions of this order.
(2) Retention. Each element of the Intelligence Community that handles personal information collected through signals intelligence:
(a) shall retain non-United States persons' personal information collected through signals intelligence only if the retention of comparable information concerning United States persons would be permitted under applicable law and shall subject such information to the same retention periods that would apply to comparable information concerning United States persons;
(b) shall subject non-United States persons' personal information collected through signals intelligence for which no final retention determination has been made to the same temporary retention periods that would apply to comparable information concerning United States persons; and
(c) shall delete non-United States persons' personal information collected through signals intelligence that may no longer be retained in the same manner that comparable information concerning United States persons would be deleted.
(B) Data security and access. Each element of the Intelligence Community that handles personal information collected through signals intelligence:
(1) shall process and store personal information collected through signals intelligence under conditions that provide appropriate protection and prevent access by unauthorized persons, consistent with the applicable safeguards for sensitive information contained in relevant Executive Orders, proclamations, other Presidential directives, Intelligence Community directives, and associated policies;
(2) shall limit access to such personal information to authorized personnel who have a need to know the information to perform their mission and have received appropriate training on the requirements of applicable United States law, as described in policies and procedures issued under subsection (c)(iv) of this section; and
(3) shall ensure that personal information collected through signals intelligence for which no final retention determination has been made is accessed only in order to make or support such a determination or to conduct authorized administrative, testing, development, security, or oversight functions.
(C) Data quality. Each element of the Intelligence Community that handles personal information collected through signals intelligence shall include such personal information in intelligence products only as consistent with applicable Intelligence Community standards for accuracy and objectivity, with a focus on applying standards relating to the quality and reliability of the information, consideration of alternative sources of information and interpretations of data, and objectivity in performing analysis.
(D) Queries of bulk collection. Each element of the Intelligence Community that conducts queries of unminimized signals intelligence obtained by bulk collection shall do so consistent with the permissible uses of signals intelligence obtained by bulk collection identified in subsection (c)(ii)(B) of this section and according to policies and procedures issued under subsection (c)(iv) of this section, which shall appropriately take into account the impact on the privacy and civil liberties of all persons, regardless of their nationality or wherever they might reside.
(E) Documentation. In order to facilitate the oversight processes set forth in subsection (d) of this section and the redress mechanism set forth in section 3 of this order, each element of the Intelligence Community that engages in signals intelligence collection activities shall maintain documentation to the extent reasonable in light of the nature and type of collection at issue and the context in which it is collected. The content of any such documentation may vary based on the circumstances but shall, to the extent reasonable, provide the factual basis pursuant to which the element of the Intelligence Community, based on a reasonable assessment of all relevant factors, assesses that the signals intelligence collection activity is necessary to advance a validated intelligence priority.
(iv) Update and publication of policies and procedures. The head of each element of the Intelligence Community:
(A) shall continue to use the policies and procedures issued pursuant to Presidential Policy Directive 28 of January 17, 2014 (Signals Intelligence Activities) (PPD–28), until they are updated pursuant to subsection (c)(iv)(B) of this section;
(B) shall, within 1 year of the date of this order [Oct. 7, 2022], in consultation with the Attorney General, the CLPO, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), update those policies and procedures as necessary to implement the privacy and civil liberties safeguards in this order; and
(C) shall, within 1 year of the date of this order, release these policies and procedures publicly to the maximum extent possible, consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, in order to enhance the public's understanding of, and to promote public trust in, the safeguards pursuant to which the United States conducts signals intelligence activities.
(v) Review by the PCLOB.
(A) Nature of review. Consistent with applicable law, the PCLOB is encouraged to conduct a review of the updated policies and procedures described in subsection (c)(iv)(B) of this section once they have been issued to ensure that they are consistent with the enhanced safeguards contained in this order.
(B) Consideration of review. Within 180 days of completion of any review by the PCLOB described in subsection (c)(v)(A) of this section, the head of each element of the Intelligence Community shall carefully consider and shall implement or otherwise address all recommendations contained in such review, consistent with applicable law.
(d) Subjecting signals intelligence activities to rigorous oversight. The actions directed in this subsection are designed to build on the oversight mechanisms that elements of the Intelligence Community already have in place, in order to further ensure that signals intelligence activities are subjected to rigorous oversight.
(i) Legal, oversight, and compliance officials. Each element of the Intelligence Community that collects signals intelligence:
(A) shall have in place senior-level legal, oversight, and compliance officials who conduct periodic oversight of signals intelligence activities, including an Inspector General, a Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer, and an officer or officers in a designated compliance role with the authority to conduct oversight of and ensure compliance with applicable United States law;
(B) shall provide such legal, oversight, and compliance officials access to all information pertinent to carrying out their oversight responsibilities under this subsection, consistent with the protection of intelligence sources or methods, including their oversight responsibilities to ensure that any appropriate actions are taken to remediate an incident of non-compliance with applicable United States law; and
(C) shall not take any actions designed to impede or improperly influence such legal, oversight, and compliance officials in carrying out their oversight responsibilities under this subsection.
(ii) Training. Each element of the Intelligence Community shall maintain appropriate training requirements to ensure that all employees with access to signals intelligence know and understand the requirements of this order and the policies and procedures for reporting and remediating incidents of non-compliance with applicable United States law.
(iii) Significant incidents of non-compliance.
(A) Each element of the Intelligence Community shall ensure that, if a legal, oversight, or compliance official, as described in subsection (d)(i) of this section, or any other employee, identifies a significant incident of non-compliance with applicable United States law, the incident is reported promptly to the head of the element of the Intelligence Community, the head of the executive department or agency (agency) containing the element of the Intelligence Community (to the extent relevant), and the Director.
(B) Upon receipt of such report, the head of the element of the Intelligence Community, the head of the agency containing the element of the Intelligence Community (to the extent relevant), and the Director shall ensure that any necessary actions are taken to remediate and prevent the recurrence of the significant incident of non-compliance.
(e) Savings clause. Provided the signals intelligence collection is conducted consistent with and in the manner prescribed by this section of this order, this order does not limit any signals intelligence collection technique authorized under the National Security Act of 1947, as amended (50 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.), the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, as amended (50 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (FISA), Executive Order 12333, or other applicable law or Presidential directive.
(a) Purpose. This section establishes a redress mechanism to review qualifying complaints transmitted by the appropriate public authority in a qualifying state concerning United States signals intelligence activities for any covered violation of United States law and, if necessary, appropriate remediation.
(b) Process for submission of qualifying complaints. Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Director, in consultation with the Attorney General and the heads of elements of the Intelligence Community that collect or handle personal information collected through signals intelligence, shall establish a process for the submission of qualifying complaints transmitted by the appropriate public authority in a qualifying state.
(c) Initial investigation of qualifying complaints by the CLPO.
(i) Establishment. The Director, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall establish a process that authorizes the CLPO to investigate, review, and, as necessary, order appropriate remediation for qualifying complaints. This process shall govern how the CLPO will review qualifying complaints in a manner that protects classified or otherwise privileged or protected information and shall ensure, at a minimum, that for each qualifying complaint the CLPO shall:
(A) review information necessary to investigate the qualifying complaint;
(B) exercise its statutory and delegated authority to determine whether there was a covered violation by:
(i) [sic] taking into account both relevant national security interests and applicable privacy protections;
(ii) giving appropriate deference to any relevant determinations made by national security officials; and
(iii) applying the law impartially;
(C) determine the appropriate remediation for any covered violation;
(D) provide a classified report on information indicating a violation of any authority subject to the oversight of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, who shall report violations to the FISC in accordance with its rules of procedure;
(E) after the review is completed, inform the complainant, through the appropriate public authority in a qualifying state and without confirming or denying that the complainant was subject to United States signals intelligence activities, that:
(1) "the review either did not identify any covered violations or the Civil Liberties Protection Officer of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a determination requiring appropriate remediation";
(2) the complainant or an element of the Intelligence Community may, as prescribed in the regulations issued by the Attorney General pursuant to section 3(d)(i) of this order, apply for review of the CLPO's determinations by the Data Protection Review Court described in subsection (d) of this section; and
(3) if either the complainant or an element of the Intelligence Community applies for review by the Data Protection Review Court, a special advocate will be selected by the Data Protection Review Court to advocate regarding the complainant's interest in the matter;
(F) maintain appropriate documentation of its review of the qualifying complaint and produce a classified decision explaining the basis for its factual findings, determination with respect to whether a covered violation occurred, and determination of the appropriate remediation in the event there was such a violation, consistent with its statutory and delegated authority;
(G) prepare a classified ex parte record of review, which shall consist of the appropriate documentation of its review of the qualifying complaint and the classified decision described in subsection (c)(i)(F) of this section; and
(H) provide any necessary support to the Data Protection Review Court.
(ii) Binding effect. Each element of the Intelligence Community, and each agency containing an element of the Intelligence Community, shall comply with any determination by the CLPO to undertake appropriate remediation pursuant to subsection (c)(i)(C) of this section, subject to any contrary determination by the Data Protection Review Court.
(iii) Assistance. Each element of the Intelligence Community shall provide the CLPO with access to information necessary to conduct the reviews described in subsection (c)(i) of this section, consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, and shall not take any actions designed to impede or improperly influence the CLPO's reviews. Privacy and civil liberties officials within elements of the Intelligence Community shall also support the CLPO as it performs the reviews described in subsection (c)(i) of this section.
(iv) Independence. The Director shall not interfere with a review by the CLPO of a qualifying complaint under subsection (c)(i) of this section; nor shall the Director remove the CLPO for any actions taken pursuant to this order, except for instances of misconduct, malfeasance, breach of security, neglect of duty, or incapacity.
(d) Data Protection Review Court.
(i) Establishment. The Attorney General is authorized to and shall establish a process to review determinations made by the CLPO under subsection (c)(i) of this section. In exercising that authority, the Attorney General shall, within 60 days of the date of this order, promulgate regulations establishing a Data Protection Review Court to exercise the Attorney General's authority to review such determinations. These regulations shall, at a minimum, provide that:
(A) The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Director, and the PCLOB, shall appoint individuals to serve as judges on the Data Protection Review Court, who shall be legal practitioners with appropriate experience in the fields of data privacy and national security law, giving weight to individuals with prior judicial experience, and who shall not be, at the time of their initial appointment, employees of the United States Government. During their term of appointment on the Data Protection Review Court, such judges shall not have any official duties or employment within the United States Government other than their official duties and employment as judges on the Data Protection Review Court.
(B) Upon receipt of an application for review filed by the complainant or an element of the Intelligence Community of a determination made by the CLPO under subsection (c) of this section, a three-judge panel of the Data Protection Review Court shall be convened to review the application. Service on the Data Protection Review Court panel shall require that the judge hold the requisite security clearances to access classified national security information.
(C) Upon being convened, the Data Protection Review Court panel shall select a special advocate through procedures prescribed in the Attorney General's regulations. The special advocate shall assist the panel in its consideration of the application for review, including by advocating regarding the complainant's interest in the matter and ensuring that the Data Protection Review Court panel is well informed of the issues and the law with respect to the matter. Service as a special advocate shall require that the special advocate hold the requisite security clearances to access classified national security information and to adhere to restrictions prescribed in the Attorney General's regulations on communications with the complainant to ensure the protection of classified or otherwise privileged or protected information.
(D) The Data Protection Review Court panel shall impartially review the determinations made by the CLPO with respect to whether a covered violation occurred and the appropriate remediation in the event there was such a violation. The review shall be based at a minimum on the classified ex parte record of review described in subsection (c)(i)(F) of this section and information or submissions provided by the complainant, the special advocate, or an element of the Intelligence Community. In reviewing determinations made by the CLPO, the Data Protection Review Court panel shall be guided by relevant decisions of the United States Supreme Court in the same way as are courts established under Article III of the United States Constitution, including those decisions regarding appropriate deference to relevant determinations of national security officials.
(E) In the event that the Data Protection Review Court panel disagrees with any of the CLPO's determinations with respect to whether a covered violation occurred or the appropriate remediation in the event there was such a violation, the panel shall issue its own determinations.
(F) The Data Protection Review Court panel shall provide a classified report on information indicating a violation of any authority subject to the oversight of the FISC to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, who shall report violations to the FISC in accordance with its rules of procedure.
(G) After the review is completed, the CLPO shall be informed of the Data Protection Review Court panel's determinations through procedures prescribed by the Attorney General's regulations.
(H) After a review is completed in response to a complainant's application for review, the Data Protection Review Court, through procedures prescribed by the Attorney General's regulations, shall inform the complainant, through the appropriate public authority in a qualifying state and without confirming or denying that the complainant was subject to United States signals intelligence activities, that "the review either did not identify any covered violations or the Data Protection Review Court issued a determination requiring appropriate remediation."
(ii) Binding effect. Each element of the Intelligence Community, and each agency containing an element of the Intelligence Community, shall comply with any determination by a Data Protection Review Court panel to undertake appropriate remediation.
(iii) Assistance. Each element of the Intelligence Community shall provide the CLPO with access to information necessary to conduct the review described in subsection (d)(i) of this section, consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods, that a Data Protection Review Court panel requests from the CLPO and shall not take any actions for the purpose of impeding or improperly influencing a panel's review.
(iv) Independence. The Attorney General shall not interfere with a review by a Data Protection Review Court panel of a determination the CLPO made regarding a qualifying complaint under subsection (c)(i) of this section; nor shall the Attorney General remove any judges appointed as provided in subsection (d)(i)(A) of this section, or remove any judge from service on a Data Protection Review Court panel, except for instances of misconduct, malfeasance, breach of security, neglect of duty, or incapacity, after taking due account of the standards in the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings promulgated by the Judicial Conference of the United States pursuant to the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act [probably means the Judicial Improvements Act of 2002] (28 U.S.C. 351 et seq.).
(v) Record of determinations. For each qualifying complaint transmitted by the appropriate public authority in a qualifying state, the Secretary of Commerce shall:
(A) maintain a record of the complainant who submitted such complaint;
(B) not later than 5 years after the date of this order and no less than every 5 years thereafter, contact the relevant element or elements of the Intelligence Community regarding whether information pertaining to the review of such complaint by the CLPO has been declassified and whether information pertaining to the review of any application for review submitted to the Data Protection Review Court has been declassified, including whether an element of the Intelligence Community filed an application for review with the Data Protection Review Court; and
(C) if informed that such information has been declassified, notify the complainant, through the appropriate public authority in a qualifying state, that information pertaining to the review of their complaint by the CLPO or to the review of any application for review submitted to the Data Protection Review Court may be available under applicable law.
(e) Annual review by PCLOB of redress process.
(i) Nature of review. Consistent with applicable law, the PCLOB is encouraged to conduct an annual review of the processing of qualifying complaints by the redress mechanism established by section 3 of this order, including whether the CLPO and the Data Protection Review Court processed qualifying complaints in a timely manner; whether the CLPO and the Data Protection Review Court are obtaining full access to necessary information; whether the CLPO and the Data Protection Review Court are operating consistent with this order; whether the safeguards established by section 2 of this order are properly considered in the processes of the CLPO and the Data Protection Review Court; and whether the elements of the Intelligence Community have fully complied with determinations made by the CLPO and the Data Protection Review Court.
(ii) Assistance. The Attorney General, the CLPO, and the elements of the Intelligence Community shall provide the PCLOB with access to information necessary to conduct the review described in subsection (e)(i) of this section, consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and methods.
(iii) Report and certification. Within 30 days of completing any review described in subsection (e)(i) of this section, the PCLOB is encouraged to:
(A) provide the President, the Attorney General, the Director, the heads of elements of the Intelligence Community, the CLPO, and the congressional intelligence committees with a classified report detailing the results of its review;
(B) release to the public an unclassified version of the report; and
(C) make an annual public certification as to whether the redress mechanism established pursuant to section 3 of this order is processing complaints consistent with this order.
(iv) Consideration of review. Within 180 days of receipt of any report by the PCLOB described in subsection (e)(iii)(A) of this section, the Attorney General, the Director, the heads of elements of the Intelligence Community, and the CLPO shall carefully consider and shall implement or otherwise address all recommendations contained in such report, consistent with applicable law.
(f) Designation of qualifying state.
(i) To implement the redress mechanism established by section 3 of this order, the Attorney General is authorized to designate a country or regional economic integration organization as a qualifying state for purposes of the redress mechanism established pursuant to section 3 of this order, effective immediately or on a date specified by the Attorney General, if the Attorney General determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Director, that:
(A) the laws of the country, the regional economic integration organization, or the regional economic integration organization's member countries require appropriate safeguards in the conduct of signals intelligence activities for United States persons' personal information that is transferred from the United States to the territory of the country or a member country of the regional economic integration organization;
(B) the country, the regional economic integration organization, or the regional economic integration organization's member countries of the regional economic integration organization permit, or are anticipated to permit, the transfer of personal information for commercial purposes between the territory of that country or those member countries and the territory of the United States; and
(C) such designation would advance the national interests of the United States.
(ii) The Attorney General may revoke or amend such a designation, effective immediately or on a date specified by the Attorney General, if the Attorney General determines, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Director, that:
(A) the country, the regional economic integration organization, or the regional economic integration organization's member countries do not provide appropriate safeguards in the conduct of signals intelligence activities for United States persons' personal information that is transferred from the United States to the territory of the country or to a member country of the regional economic integration organization;
(B) the country, the regional economic integration organization, or the regional economic integration organization's member countries do not permit the transfer of personal information for commercial purposes between the territory of that country or those member countries and the territory of the United States; or
(C) such designation is not in the national interests of the United States.
(a) "Appropriate remediation" means lawful measures designed to fully redress an identified covered violation regarding a specific complainant and limited to measures designed to address that specific complainant's complaint, taking into account the ways that a violation of the kind identified have customarily been addressed. Such measures may include, depending on the specific covered violation at issue, curing through administrative measures violations found to have been procedural or technical errors relating to otherwise lawful access to or handling of data, terminating acquisition of data where collection is not lawfully authorized, deleting data that had been acquired without lawful authorization, deleting the results of inappropriately conducted queries of otherwise lawfully collected data, restricting access to lawfully collected data to those appropriately trained, or recalling intelligence reports containing data acquired without lawful authorization or that were otherwise disseminated in a manner inconsistent with United States law. Appropriate remediation shall be narrowly tailored to redress the covered violation and to minimize adverse impacts on the operations of the Intelligence Community and the national security of the United States.
(b) "Bulk collection" means the authorized collection of large quantities of signals intelligence data that, due to technical or operational considerations, is acquired without the use of discriminants (for example, without the use of specific identifiers or selection terms).
(c) "Counterintelligence" shall have the same meaning as it has in Executive Order 12333 [50 U.S.C. 3001 note].
(d) "Covered violation" means a violation that:
(i) arises from signals intelligence activities conducted after the date of this order regarding data transferred to the United States from a qualifying state after the effective date of the Attorney General's designation for such state, as provided in section 3(f)(i) of this order;
(ii) adversely affects the complainant's individual privacy and civil liberties interests; and
(iii) violates one or more of the following:
(A) the United States Constitution;
(B) the applicable sections of FISA or any applicable FISC-approved procedures;
(C) Executive Order 12333 or any applicable agency procedures pursuant to Executive Order 12333;
(D) this order or any applicable agency policies and procedures issued or updated pursuant to this order (or the policies and procedures identified in section 2(c)(iv)(A) of this order before they are updated pursuant to section 2(c)(iv)(B) of this order);
(E) any successor statute, order, policies, or procedures to those identified in section 4(d)(iii)(B)–(D) of this order; or
(F) any other statute, order, policies, or procedures adopted after the date of this order that provides privacy and civil liberties safeguards with respect to United States signals intelligence activities within the scope of this order, as identified in a list published and updated by the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence.
(e) "Foreign intelligence" shall have the same meaning as it has in Executive Order 12333.
(f) "Intelligence" shall have the same meaning as it has in Executive Order 12333.
(g) "Intelligence Community" and "elements of the Intelligence Community" shall have the same meaning as they have in Executive Order 12333.
(h) "National security" shall have the same meaning as it has in Executive Order 13526 of December 29, 2009 (Classified National Security Information) [50 U.S.C. 3161 note].
(i) "Non-United States person" means a person who is not a United States person.
(j) "Personnel of the United States or of its allies or partners" means any current or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States, any current or former official of the United States Government, and any other person currently or formerly employed by or working on behalf of the United States Government, as well as any current or former member of the military, current or former official, or other person currently or formerly employed by or working on behalf of an ally or partner.
(k) "Qualifying complaint" means a complaint, submitted in writing, that:
(i) alleges a covered violation has occurred that pertains to personal information of or about the complainant, a natural person, reasonably believed to have been transferred to the United States from a qualifying state after the effective date of the Attorney General's designation for such state, as provided in section 3(f)(i) of this order;
(ii) includes the following basic information to enable a review: information that forms the basis for alleging that a covered violation has occurred, which need not demonstrate that the complainant's data has in fact been subject to United States signals intelligence activities; the nature of the relief sought; the specific means by which personal information of or about the complainant was believed to have been transmitted to the United States; the identities of the United States Government entities believed to be involved in the alleged violation (if known); and any other measures the complainant pursued to obtain the relief requested and the response received through those other measures;
(iii) is not frivolous, vexatious, or made in bad faith;
(iv) is brought on behalf of the complainant, acting on that person's own behalf, and not as a representative of a governmental, nongovernmental, or intergovernmental organization; and
(v) is transmitted by the appropriate public authority in a qualifying state, after it has verified the identity of the complainant and that the complaint satisfies the conditions of section 5(k)(i)–(iv) of this order.
(l) "Significant incident of non-compliance" shall mean a systemic or intentional failure to comply with a principle, policy, or procedure of applicable United States law that could impugn the reputation or integrity of an element of the Intelligence Community or otherwise call into question the propriety of an Intelligence Community activity, including in light of any significant impact on the privacy and civil liberties interests of the person or persons concerned.
(m) "United States person" shall have the same meaning as it has in Executive Order 12333.
(n) "Validated intelligence priority" shall mean, for most United States signals intelligence collection activities, a priority validated under the process described in section 2(b)(iii) of this order; or, in narrow circumstances (for example, when such process cannot be carried out because of a need to address a new or evolving intelligence requirement), shall mean a priority set by the President or the head of an element of the Intelligence Community in accordance with the criteria described in section 2(b)(iii)(A)(1)–(3) of this order to the extent feasible.
(o) "Weapons of mass destruction" shall have the same meaning as it has in Executive Order 13526.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law, including orders of and procedures approved by the FISC, and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) Nothing in this order precludes the application of more privacy-protective safeguards for United States signals intelligence activities that would apply in the absence of this order. In the case of any conflict between this order and other applicable law, the more privacy-protective safeguards shall govern the conduct of signals intelligence activities, to the maximum extent allowed by law.
(d) Nothing in this order prohibits elements of the Intelligence Community from disseminating information relating to a crime for law enforcement purposes; disseminating warnings of threats of killing, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping; disseminating cyber threat, incident, or intrusion response information; notifying victims or warning potential victims of crime; or complying with dissemination obligations required by statute, treaty, or court order, including orders of and procedures approved by the FISC or other court orders.
(e) The collection, retention, and dissemination of information concerning United States persons is governed by multiple legal and policy requirements, such as those required by FISA and Executive Order 12333. This order is not intended to alter the rules applicable to United States persons adopted pursuant to FISA, Executive Order 12333, or other applicable law.
(f) This order shall apply to signals intelligence activities consistent with the scope of PPD–28's application to such activities prior to PPD–28's partial revocation by the national security memorandum issued concurrently with this order. To implement this subsection, the head of each agency containing an element of the Intelligence Community, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director, is hereby delegated the authority to issue guidance, which may be classified, as appropriate, as to the scope of application of this order with respect to the element or elements of the Intelligence Community within their agency. The CLPO and the Data Protection Review Court, in carrying out the functions assigned to it under this order, shall treat such guidance as authoritative and binding.
(g) Nothing in this order confers authority to declassify or disclose classified national security information except as authorized pursuant to Executive Order 13526 or any successor order. Consistent with the requirements of Executive Order 13526, the CLPO, the Data Protection Review Court, and the special advocates shall not have authority to declassify classified national security information, nor shall they disclose any classified or otherwise privileged or protected information except to authorized and appropriately cleared individuals who have a need to know the information.
(h) This order creates an entitlement to submit qualifying complaints to the CLPO and to obtain review of the CLPO's decisions by the Data Protection Review Court in accordance with the redress mechanism established in section 3 of this order. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any other entitlement, right, or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. This order is not intended to, and does not, modify the availability or scope of any judicial review of the decisions rendered through the redress mechanism, which is governed by existing law.
J.R. Biden, Jr.
Effective Dates of Provisions in Title I of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 21, 2005, 70 F.R. 23925, provided:
Memorandum for the Secretary of State[,] the Secretary of the Treasury[,] the Secretary of Defense[,] the Attorney General[,] the Secretary of Energy[,] the Secretary of Homeland Security[,] the Director of the Office of Management and Budget[, and] the Director of National Intelligence
Subsection 1097(a) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458, December 17, 2004) (the Act) [set out in a note above] provides:
(a) IN GENERAL- Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, this title and the amendments made by this title shall take effect not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Subsection 1097(a) clearly contemplates that one or more of the provisions in Title I of the Act may take effect earlier than the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of the Act, but does not state explicitly the mechanism for determining when such earlier effect shall occur, leaving it to the President in the execution of the Act. Moreover, given that section 1097(a) evinces a legislative intent to afford the President flexibility, and such flexibility is constitutionally appropriate with respect to intelligence matters (see United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corporation, 299 U.S. 304 (1936)), the executive branch shall construe section 1097(a) to authorize the President to select different effective dates that precede the 6-month deadline for different provisions in Title I.
Therefore, pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including subsection 1097(a) of the Act, I hereby determine and direct:
1. Sections 1097(a) and 1103 of the Act [set out in notes above], relating respectively to effective dates of provisions and to severability, shall take effect immediately upon the signing of this memorandum to any extent that they have not already taken effect.
2. Provisions in Title I of the Act other than those addressed in numbered paragraph 1 of this memorandum shall take effect immediately upon the signing of this memorandum, except:
(a) any provision in Title I of the Act for which the Act expressly provides the date on which the provision shall take effect; and
(b) sections 1021 and 1092 of the Act [enacting section 3056 of this title and provisions set out in a note above, respectively], relating to the National Counterterrorism Center.
The taking of effect of a provision pursuant to section 1097(a) of the Act and this memorandum shall not affect the construction of such provision by the executive branch as set forth in my Statement of December 17, 2004, upon signing the Act into law.
The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
George W. Bush.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.