Which statement is accurate regarding the ODNI and DNI authority?

Which statement is accurate regarding the ODNI and DNI authority?

• A. The president authorized creation of the ODNI and gave the DNI authority to establish functional issue managers and mission mangers to coordinate IC activities with respect to designated countries, regions, topics, and functional issues
• B. The president and the Congress authorized creation of the ODNI and gave the DNI authority to establish functional issue managers and mission mangers to coordinate IC activities with respect to designated countries, regions, topics, and functional issues
• C. the Congress authorized creation of the ODNI and gave the DNI authority to establish functional issue managers and mission mangers to coordinate IC activities with respect to designated countries, regions, topics, and functional issues
• D. Executive order to create the ODNI

Answer: (C)

The main point is how the ODNI and DNI authority were established. The ODNI was created by statute, specifically the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, enacted by Congress and signed into law by the President. This law assigns the DNI the authority to establish functional issue managers and mission managers to coordinate IC activities with respect to designated countries, regions, topics, and functional issues. An executive order cannot create a new statutory office like the ODNI, though the President signs such laws. So the correct framing is that Congress authorized the ODNI’s creation and granted the DNI those coordinating powers. While the President’s signature is necessary for the law, the authorization itself comes from Congress.

The main point is how the ODNI and DNI authority were established. The ODNI was created by statute, specifically the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, enacted by Congress and signed into law by the President. This law assigns the DNI the authority to establish functional issue managers and mission managers to coordinate IC activities with respect to designated countries, regions, topics, and functional issues. An executive order cannot create a new statutory office like the ODNI, though the President signs such laws. So the correct framing is that Congress authorized the ODNI’s creation and granted the DNI those coordinating powers. While the President’s signature is necessary for the law, the authorization itself comes from Congress.