Reg to Restrict CIA Retirees

THE DAILY FED

Reg to Restrict CIA Retirees

The CIA has proposed that some of its retiring officers be restricted from taking jobs with foreign governments, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Under a proposed agency regulation, senior CIA officials would not be allowed to work for foreign governments with which they dealt in their last year of service for three years after retiring. The CIA director, deputy director and select senior intelligence service officers, primarily in the clandestine Directorate of Operations, would be covered by the regulation.

Downsizing and increased retirements have caused a growing concern at the CIA and on Capitol Hill that retired officials may use their CIA experience and connections to aid foreign governments. A senior official told the Post that a handful of retired officials "tried to cash in by going to former liaison contacts and saying they could continue to give advice" for money.

The rule would be the first barring U.S. foreign affairs agencies' retirees from seeking employment abroad.

Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., last week asked CIA director nominee George Tenet why the draft proposal affects only those officials who worked abroad "under official cover," as representatives of the U.S. government, and not those who worked under "commercial cover."

Tenet told Kerrey he would review the proposal.

Under the proposed regulation, the CIA director would be permitted to waive the restrictions if he "determines that it would be in the best interest of the United States."