Keep DNI as sole Cabinet-level intelligence official and true IC head
Mandate endorses Ratcliffe advice that DNI be the only Cabinet-level intelligence official, with real—not paper—authority so agencies cannot wait out or work around ODNI via OMB/appropriators.
Mandate
Mandate Ch. 7 (Intelligence Community) — ODNI: DNI should be the only Cabinet-level intelligence official; conservative President must empower DNI to oversee/manage IC including budget and personnel authority and timely feedback from components; otherwise agencies regard ODNI as annoyance and circumvent via appropriators/OMB or wait out Administration.
Undo plan
1) Maintain CIA Director and other principals’ direct presidential access for operational advice as needed.
2) Clarify Cabinet seating without silencing agency technical expertise.
3) Stop using ‘empower DNI’ as pretext for politicized analytic direction.
4) Institutionalize ODNI coordination charters agreed with agencies.
5) Verify: NSC attendance norms; agency circumvention complaints to SSCI/HPSCI.
Sources
- https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf
- https://archive.org/stream/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL_djvu.txt
- https://whatisproject2025.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2025_MandateForLeadership_CHAPTER-07.pdf
- https://whatisproject2025.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2025_MandateForLeadership_SECTION-02.pdf