Bush issues order boosting CIA director's authority
President also moves to create a national counterterrorism center and set guidelines for sharing intelligence among agencies.
President Bush Friday issued a series of executive orders designed to address recommendations of the recent special commission on the Sept. 11 attacks.
One order gives the CIA chief interim authority to perform many of the the functions envisioned for the national intelligence director proposed by the 9/11 commission, overseeing all 15 of the intelligence agencies in government.
Another executive order creates a National Counterterrorism Center, with the authority to direct operations in a number of areas, including military and law enforcement affairs. A third order establishes guidelines for information sharing among intelligence agencies.
Some U.S. lawmakers are concerned that the executive orders are an attempt by the White House to block more sweeping intelligence reform, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
"This is the way it works," a congressional official told the paper. "They do it by executive order and tell Congress they don't have to act."
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said the Bush administration would continue to work with Congress on proposals for a permanent national intelligence director, the Associated Press reported.
Last Sunday, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., unveiled a sweeping intelligence reform proposal that would transfer sections of the CIA and intelligence agencies controlled by the Defense Department to the direct control of a national intelligence director.
Under Roberts' proposal, the new director would have full budgetary and personnel authority for the agencies, including the ability to reprogram and transfer funding and line-item budget authority.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, the top Democrat on the committee, issued a competing proposal Friday. Under his plan, during times of war, the national intelligence director and the Defense secretary would be given equal roles in the management of the intelligence agencies controlled by the Pentagon -- the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office. In the event of disputes between the two officials, the matter would be resolved by the National Security Council and the president.