The Role of the Director of National Intelligence
In this explainer, Intelligence experts at the Belfer Center break down what the role and responsibilities are of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the United States.
In this explainer, Intelligence experts at the Belfer Center break down what the role and responsibilities are of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the United States.
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is the principal intelligence advisor to the President of the United States and a member of the National Security Council (NSC). They oversee the National Intelligence Program and provide cabinet level leadership for the eighteen organizations that are members of the U.S. Intelligence Community, including the National Security Agency (NSA) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The President nominates the Director of National Intelligence, which, like most cabinet level appointments, is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate. This begins with a thorough vetting and public hearing by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) before recommendation to the entire U.S. Senate. To date most nominees have successfully undergone confirmation hearings and earned the support of the SSCI prior to a full Senate vote.
Historically, most DNIs and their senior staff have significant experience in the intelligence community, roles on U.S. Congressional committees, or high-level leadership positions elsewhere in the federal government or U.S. military. They are typically senior, well informed on key issues, and trusted by the President.
DNIs are supported by the entire intelligence community and expected to provide unvarnished and unbiased insights on national security challenges.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) was officially stood up in 2005 to enhance leadership and integration of the intelligence community. The Director of National Intelligence became the principal intelligence advisor to the president and head of a community that encompasses eighteen organizations.
The ODNI was established by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, signed into law in December 2004. This legislation came in response to public pressure to reform the community following the attacks of 9/11 and failure to accurately assess the weapons of mass destruction threat in Iraq. The DNI position was created to lead a more integrated community by improving information sharing and interoperability between organizations.
The conceptional idea of a DNI can be traced back to the 1950s but never found quite enough traction for implementation. Over the Cold War and into the early 2000s, U.S. intelligence was led by a Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). The DCI was simultaneously responsible for leading the CIA and an intelligence community that grew exponentially over the twentieth century.
For many, the new DNI model represented the initial goals of organized intelligence: a centralized bureaucratic apparatus able to prioritize, manage, and coordinate intelligence in support of decisionmakers and policy development. Integration became the watchword for DNIs collating intelligence from across the community to support policymakers and decision-making.
Others felt the new organization was systemic redundancy and undermined an arrangement that had been responsible for winning the Cold War. Critics argue the ODNI has grown too large and is a bureaucratic obstacle to a more efficient process that was better addressed by a DCI led intelligence enterprise.
As government expanded to address evolving intelligence requirements, and new threat vectors signaled increased demand for limited time and resources, the need for separation of a DCI into distinct positions of a DNI and Director of the CIA ultimately became the new model for American intelligence.
Most analysts and observers have come to agree these are two large, time-consuming jobs that require the attention of more than one leader in government, leading to a division of labor between the two.
Today, the most important partnership in the U.S. Intelligence Community is that of the DNI and the Director of the CIA. Together, through personalities and relevant authorities, they provide the most significant impact for policymakers.
The Director of National Intelligence has three critical responsibilities that are integral to leading the U.S. intelligence enterprise:
1. As principal advisor for the President on matters related to intelligence. They oversee and manage the Presidential Daily Brief in cooperation with other members of the intelligence community.
2. Overseeing the National Intelligence Program on matters related to budgeting and priorities across the national organizations and working with the Department of Defense to develop a robust Military Intelligence Program that in totality funds and supports American intelligence.
3. Leading the wider intelligence community of eighteen organizations, to ensure intelligence priorities align with high level requirements, the workforce is adequately staffed, and intelligence capabilities are refined.
The Belfer Center's Intelligence Project links intelligence agencies with researchers, faculty, and students.
Miner, Michael . “The Role of the Director of National Intelligence.” January 29, 2025