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1 [1] (February 2, 2026)

handle is hein.crs/govethr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressio,nal Research Servic inforn ingithe eg slative debatesinc 1914 Updated February 2, 2026 Defense Primer: National and Defense Intelligence The Intelligence Community (IC) is responsible for providing insight into actual or potential threats to the U.S. homeland, the American people, and national interests at home and abroad. It aims to do so through the production of timely, nonpolitical products and services to help inform tactical and strategic decisionmakers. Consumers of intelligence include the President, the National Security Council (NSC), executive branch departments and agencies, the military, Congress, and the law enforcement community. The IC is composed of 18 elements (50 U.S.C. §3003(4)), two of which are independent, and 16 of which are component organizations of six separate departments of the federal government. These elements receive appropriated intelligence funding from the National Intelligence Program (NIP). The nine Department of Defense (DOD, using the Department of War as a secondary title under Executive Order (E.O.) 14347, dated September 5, 2025) IC elements also receive funding from the Military Intelligence Program (MIP). For more on intelligence funding see, CRS In Focus IF10524, Defense Primer: Budgetingfor National and Defense Intelligence, by Michael E. DeVine. Statutory IC Elements DOD Elements: * Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) * National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) * National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) * National Security Agency (NSA) * U.S. Naval Intelligence (N2) * U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Enterprise (MCISR-E) * U.S. Army Intelligence (G2) * U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (AF/A2) * U.S. Space Force Intelligence (S-2) Non-DOD Elements: * Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) * Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) * Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Intelligence & Research (INR) * Department ofjustice (DOJ) Drug Enforcement Administration Office of National Security Intelligence (DEA/ONSI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Intelligence Branch (FBI/IB) * Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence & Analysis (I&A), and U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence (CG-2) * Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Intelligence & Counter- Intelligence (OICI) * Department of the Treasury Office of Intelligence & Analysis (OIA) Source: 50 U.S. Code §3003(4); ODNI. National and Defense Inte Ience National intelligence addresses the strategic requirements of national security policymakers such as the President, the Secretary of Defense (who is using Secretary of War as a secondary title under E.O. 14347), and the Secretary of State. National intelligence programs and activities are funded through the NIP budget appropriations, which are a consolidation of appropriations for the ODNI, CIA, general defense, and national cryptologic, reconnaissance, geospatial, and other specialized intelligence programs. The NIP, therefore, provides funding for not only the ODNI, CIA, and IC elements of the Departments of Homeland Security, Energy, the Treasury, Justice, and State, but also, substantially, for the strategic-level programs and activities of the intelligence agencies within DOD, particularly the NSA, NGA, DIA, and NRO. Defense intelligence comprises the intelligence organizations and capabilities of the military services, Joint Staff, combatant commands, and the four DOD intelligence agencies: the NSA, NGA, DIA, and NRO. Defense intelligence addresses strategic and tactical requirements; it supports military strategy, planning, and operations, providing products and services on foreign military capabilities, plans and intentions, orders-of-battle, disposition of forces, and the political, social, and economic factors influencing the environment in areas of actual or potential military operations. National and defense intelligence are not discrete enterprises. The 18 organizational elements, regardless of whether they may primarily focus on national or defense intelligence activities, are required to collaborate closely to address intelligence gaps and disseminate timely products to appropriately cleared personnel across the government. IC elements are expected to leverage international partners on issues of mutual concern to complement the organic national and defense intelligence activities funded through the NIP and MIP. ho Does What? E.O. 12333, codified in 50 U.S.C. §3001, establishes general duties and responsibilities for each element of the IC. Other laws, executive orders, and policy issuances may establish additional duties and responsibilities for particular IC elements. * DIA is a DOD combat support agency that collects, analyzes, and disseminates foreign military intelligence to policymakers and the military. DIA serves as the nation's primary manager and producer of foreign military intelligence. It manages the production of intelligence for the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the combatant commands.