MINUTES OF THIRD MEETING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE EAST BUILDING, AT 1500 HOURS, 11 MARCH 1976

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00062A000800040018-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: March 13, 1976
• Content Type: MIN

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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE
Washington, D.C. 20505
CFI-M-3
13 March 1976
Limited Distribution
Minutes of Third Meeting
Committee on Foreign Intelligence
East Building, at 1500 hours, 11 March 1976
Director of Central Intelligence
Mr. George Bush
Pre siding
Mr. Robert F. Ellsworth, Deputy Secretary of Defense
Mr. William G. Hyland, Deputy Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs
Mr. Thomas Latimer, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Intelligence)
Mr. Richard Ober, Director for Intelligence Coordination, National
Security Council Staff
Mr. E. H. Knoche, Acting Deputy to the DCI for the Intelligence Community
Mr. Richard Lehman, Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence
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declassification schedule of E.p, 11652
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CFI-M-3
13 March 1976
Limited Distribution
SUBJECT: Draft Minutes of the 11 March 1976 Meeting
of the Committee on Foreign Intelligence
1. The minutes of the 25 February 1976 meeting were approved. Mr. Knoche
noted that the action item in the 25 February minutes involving an ICS paper delin-
eating CFI, DCI and USIB-type concerns and responsibilities remains in process.
It was also agreed that it will not be necessary to issue a CFI directive extending
USIB temporarily since the action is reflected in official USIB minutes.
2. The Chairman followed the outline of agenda papers concerning his talks
on the Hill with various Senators concerning Senate Budget Committee requests for
budgetary information. Mr. Bush's basic approach has been to hold back on pro-
viding such detail pending Congressional resolution of how to arrange eventual over-
sight of the Intelligence Community. There was CFI agreement on this position.
3. There was a discussion of reprogramming rules in connection with the
Chairman's report of his 4 March meeting with OMB Director Lynn.
4. There was a discussion of Mr. Latimer's concern about the level of detail
contained in a "Top Secret SENSITIVE" classified budget annex prepared by OMB
and intended for Congressional Oversight Committees' use in demonstrating
awareness of Community-wide budgets. There was also brief discussion concerning
an OMB allowance letter sent to Mr. Bush under date of 8 March.
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tentative plans for the reorganization of the ICS to meet functional responsibilities
in support of the CFI, of the DCI, and of a USIB successor. Mr. Ellsworth said
the plans were based on an assumption that the Director has three hats whereas
Mr. Ellsworth's reading of Executive Order 11905 is that all of the Director's
responsibilities derive from two roles: the executive head of CIA and the Chairman
of the CFI. The CFI, Mr. Ellsworth noted, is assigned the responsibility for
setting "policy priorities for the collection and production of national intelligence,,,
and the Director's responsibilities amount to implementation of this CFI responsibility.
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Washington, D.C. 20505
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The Director referred to the various responsibilities assigned to the DCI by the
Executive Order, pointing out that many were, in his view, quite separate from
CFI responsibilities. He said that the two-hat interpretation of Mr. Ellsworth
would cause the DCI to carry out his tasks either through CIA or through CFI;
that a USIB successor organization with advisory responsibilities would have to
be folded under the CIA and this would seem clearly to conflict with the intent of
the Executive Order. Mr. Hyland said the President expects the CFI to get hold
-of resource issues and controls and that the question of production of intelligence
:is the DCI's problem. Mr. Hyland saw that the ICS plans were based on trying to
-relate combined staff support to several tasks rather than to have separate staffs
for each task. Mr. Ellsworth noted that most observers conclude there is a problem
-with the quality of the national intelligence product and that the three CFI members
have a heavy responsibility in the fields of collection and production. Mr. Hyland
said it is clear the CFI will have to evaluate these functions, but there is a need to
get organized and on with the job. Mr. Bush agreed that the CFI will have to take
looks at what needs improvement but he said there are some responsibilities he has
that are separate from the CFI and require execution by the DCI. Mr. Ellsworth
responded that he had problems with this view but in the interests of proceeding he
would go along, with the record to show his reservations. The discussion concluded
with the understanding that ICS reorganization plans had general approval for the
purpose of getting on with staffing and manning. It was further agreed the ICS or-
ganization should clearly indicate a CFI focal point in each of the major components
of the Staff.
6. The CFI was briefed on the status of current planning for the relocation
of the ICS and agreed on the desirability of obtaining the downtown building
described. The Chairman said efforts would be made to obtain it.
7. A proposed charter covering NRO/NRP was considered briefly. Following
the discussion it was agreed that an alternative draft would be coordinated with
the NRO Staff and a new version tabled at a subsequent meeting of the CFI. It
was agreed that the charter might be issued as a CFI directive (CFID).
8. Proposed revisions to three NSCID's, drafted by a CFI working group,
were deferred to the CFI's next meeting at the request of Mr. Hyland. CFI
members agreed to press ahead with NSCID revisions as directed by terms of
Executive Order 11905. Mr. Hyland asked the ICS to consider carefully the
question of classification of revised NSCID's.
9. CFI members briefly discussed ways to improve oversight and production
of intelligence judgments concerning the size of Soviet military expenditures. It
was agreed that the subject is not one of direct CFI concern, but Mr. Bush
directed Mr. Lehman to arrange for broadening of a CIA panel of outside consul-
tants to include DoD nominees, for re-designating the panel as a joint CIA-DoD
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panel and for extending its charter in order that it can suggest new methodologies
to be employed in making intelligence judgments in this field. There was a brief
discussion of a DoD desire to assess the "policy implications" of intelligence
estimates of Soviet defense expenditures. Mr. Lehman said CIA felt this was not
an intelligence matter, that it fit more properly within policy-makers' concerns.
Mr. Hyland said he thought this would be a worthy task that might be covered by
the NSSM process.
10. The meeting concluded after a short discussion of Item Three, (a proposed
definition of the NFIP, options covering the process to be employed in CFI
resource management and reprogramming guidelines) which will be considered at
the next meeting.
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E. H. Knoche
Attachment:
Summary of Actions
Adjournment: 1700 hours
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SUMMARY OF ACTIONS
(a) IC Staff to clarify with OMB re the necessity for
reprogramming rules.
(b) IC Staff to confer with OMB about level of detail
in classified budget annex. Classification should
be kept to SECRET level if possible.
(c) IC Staff to circulate copies of OMB allowance letter.
(d) IC Staff should continue to develop reorganization
plans and developing proposals for staffing and
manning.
(e) IC Staff to coordinate alternative draft NRO/NRO
charter with NRO Staff. New version to be tabled
at subsequent CFI meeting. Charter to be issued
as CFI directive.
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