[Presidential Decision Directives - PDD]

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary


For Immediate Release

May 3, 1994 Statement By The Press Secretary

U.S. Counterintelligence Effectiveness

President Clinton signed today a Presidential Decision Directive on U.S. counterintelligence effectiveness to foster increased cooperation, coordination and accountability among all U.S. counterintelligence agencies. The President has directed the creation of a new national counterintelligence policy structure under the auspices of the National Security Council. In addition, he has directed the creation of a new National Counterintelligence Center, initially to be led by a senior executive of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Finally, the President's Decision Directive requires that exchange of senior managers between the Cia and the Fbi to ensure timely and close coordination between the intelligence and law enforcement communities.

The President's decision to take these significant steps of restructuring U.S. counterintelligence policy and interagency coordination, followed a Presidential Review of U.S. counterintelligence in the wake of the Aldrich Ames espionage investigation. The President, in issuing this Directive, has taken immediate steps to improve our ability to counter both traditional and new threats to our nation's security in the post- Cold War era.

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Fact Sheet

U.S. Counterintelligence Effectiveness

Many threats to the national security of the United States have been significantly reduced by the break-up of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. Core U.S. concepts -- democracy and market economics -- are more broadly accepted around the world than ever before. Nevertheless, recent events at home and abroad make clear that numerous threats to our national interests -- terrorism, proliferating weapons of mass destruction, ethnic conflicts, sluggish economic growth -- continue to exist and must be effectively addressed. In this context, it is critical that the U.S. maintain a highly effective and coordinated counterintelligence capability.

A review of U.S. counterintelligence effectiveness in the wake of the Ames case highlights the need for improvements in the coordination of our counterintelligence (Ci) activities. The recent Dci and Attorney General Joint Task Force on Intelligence Community-Law Enforcement Relations noted that changes to the basic underlying legal authorities defining the relationship between the intelligence and law enforcement communities are not required. Rather, the task force concluded that what is needed..."is for the two communities to improve their understanding of their respective needs and operating practices...to cooperate earlier, more closely, and more consistently on matters in which they both have a separate but parallel interest." This Directive outlines specific steps which will be taken to achieve the objective of improved cooperation.

Executive Order 12333 designates the National Security Council (Nsc) "as the highest Executive Branch entity that provides review of, guidance for and direction to the conduct of," among other things, counterintelligence policies and programs. Consistent with E.O. 12333, the President directed the creation of a new Ci structure, under the direction of the Nsc, for the coordination of Ci policy matters in order to integrate more fully government-wide counterintelligence capabilities, to foster greater cooperation among the various departments and agencies with Ci responsibilities and to establish greater accountability for the creation of Ci policy and its execution. This new structure will ensure that all relevant departments and agencies have a full and free exchange of information necessary to achieve maximum effectiveness of the U.S. counterintelligence effort, consistent with U.S. law.

Nothing in this directive amends or changes the authorities and responsibilities of the Dci, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Attorney General or Director of the Fbi, as contained in the National Security Act of 1947, other existing laws and E.O. 12333.

The following specific initiatives will be undertaken to improve U.S. counterintelligence effectiveness:

National Counterintelligence Policy Coordination

Counterintelligence Integration and Cooperation

The Policy Board will be responsible for the regular monitoring and review of the integration and coordination of U.S. counterintelligence programs. The Policy Board will provide an annual report to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and on Us counterintelligence effectiveness. # # #