Who issues Intelligence Community Directives (ICDs)?

Who issues Intelligence Community Directives (ICDs)?

• A. The President.
• B. The Director of National Intelligence.
• C. The Secretary of Defense.
• D. The National Security Advisor.

Answer: (B)

Intelligence Community Directives are issued by the Director of National Intelligence, who heads the U.S. Intelligence Community and sets binding policy for all IC elements. ICDs provide authoritative guidance on how the IC conducts its work, clarify authorities, and establish uniform procedures across agencies such as CIA, DIA, NSA, NGA, FBI intelligence components, and others. The President can shape national policy, but ICDs themselves come from the DNI to ensure consistent implementation across the IC. The Secretary of Defense and the National Security Advisor do not issue ICDs; they may issue their own departmental or White House guidance, but not the IC-wide directives.

Intelligence Community Directives are issued by the Director of National Intelligence, who heads the U.S. Intelligence Community and sets binding policy for all IC elements. ICDs provide authoritative guidance on how the IC conducts its work, clarify authorities, and establish uniform procedures across agencies such as CIA, DIA, NSA, NGA, FBI intelligence components, and others. The President can shape national policy, but ICDs themselves come from the DNI to ensure consistent implementation across the IC. The Secretary of Defense and the National Security Advisor do not issue ICDs; they may issue their own departmental or White House guidance, but not the IC-wide directives.