CRS Issue Statement on Intelligence Policy

Richard A. Best Jr., Coordinator
Specialist in National Defense


Increasingly, there is little difference between what is "foreign" intelligence and what is "domestic" intelligence. Information can be collected abroad that is of importance to those responsible for law enforcement and, conversely, some information collected within U.S. borders addresses important foreign intelligence concerns. This is especially the case in regard to situations in which parties overseas seek to undertake terrorist attacks within the United States. A number of key statutes (especially the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458)) were enacted in the wake of 9/11 to remove the dichotomy between foreign and domestic intelligence collection and analysis. Given recent terrorist attacks, the second session of the 111th Congress is likely to continue to be concerned that the new organizational relationships put into place in recent years are optimized to deal with the new intelligence environment– including mechanisms to encourage the greater sharing of information while protecting the civil liberties of U.S. persons. An area of particular concern is likely to be counterterrorism capabilities in regard to Al Qaeda and the extent to which the targeting of drone attacks has been misdirected by false information deliberately given to the CIA. Congress is also expected to pay especially close attention to the status of organizational changes in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) designed to enhance the FBI's intelligence collection and analysis capabilities. In addition, Congress will likely monitor the role of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in its efforts to share intelligence with state and local governments. Particular interest in improving the effectiveness of watchlists for airline travelers is likely.


Date of Report: January 15, 2010
Number of Pages: 3
Order Number: IS40334
Price: $7.95

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