Inspector General of the Intelligence Community

The Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (IC IG) is a role within the United States federal government that focuses on oversight of the nation’s intelligence agencies. The office of the IC IG is part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) is a U.S. government agency that serves to assist the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The DNI is the head of the Intelligence Community (IC), acting as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to national security.

The ODNI has four main duties:

1. Lead Intelligence Integration: The DNI works to effectively integrate foreign, military, and domestic intelligence in defense of the homeland and of United States interests abroad.
2. Oversee the Coordination of Foreign Relations for the IC: The DNI coordinates the relationships of IC elements with the intelligence or security services of foreign governments and international organizations on all matters involving intelligence related to the national security or involving intelligence acquired through clandestine means.
3. Set IC-wide Policy and Ensure Compliance: The DNI is responsible for developing and implementing a uniform intelligence community-wide personnel policy for training, retention, and career development.
4. Manage IC Activities: The DNI sets budgets, develops capabilities, conducts audits, and evaluates the performance of the IC agencies in terms of their suitability to objectives, budget compliance, and the execution of the National Intelligence Program.

The ODNI is meant to support the DNI in these responsibilities and helps to ensure that all intelligence agencies operate collaboratively and effectively. The ODNI includes several offices such as the National Counterterrorism Center, the National Counterproliferation Center, and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. Additionally, the ODNI coordinates analysis and collection activities among the various agencies of the IC.

The Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (IC IG), who reports to both the DNI and Congress, is also part of the ODNI and plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of the IC.

The IC IG’s primary responsibilities include conducting independent audits, investigations, inspections, and reviews of the programs and operations within the jurisdiction of the Director of National Intelligence. This office is expected to detect and deter waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct, and promote the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Intelligence Community.

The IC IG is also responsible for keeping the Director of National Intelligence and Congress fully informed about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations, as well as the necessity for, and the progress of, corrective actions.

The IC IG is nominated by the President and must be confirmed by the Senate. As a political appointee, the IC IG serves at the pleasure of the President.

The Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (IGIC) position was created in 2010 as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act.

1. Charles McCullough (2011–2017): McCullough was the first individual to hold the position. He was sworn into office on November 15, 2011, and served until his retirement on March 31, 2017.
2. Wayne Stone (2017–2018): Stone served as the Acting IGIC from 2017 until 2018.
3. Michael K. Atkinson (2018–2020): Atkinson was sworn into office on May 17, 2018. He was removed from the position on April 3, 2020.
4. Thomas Monheim (2020–2021): Monheim was appointed as Acting IGIC on April 3, 2020.

As the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, the person in this role has a significant amount of oversight power, but it’s important to understand this power in context. The IGIC operates within a defined scope that involves oversight and review rather than direct control or command.

Here’s a brief rundown of the IGIC’s powers and responsibilities:

1. Investigative Power: The IGIC can initiate and conduct independent audits, investigations, inspections, and reviews on programs and operations within the jurisdiction of the Director of National Intelligence. This includes the ability to access all records, reports, audits, reviews, documents, papers, recommendations, or other materials related to the administration of programs and operations.
2. Reporting Power: The IGIC regularly reports to the Director of National Intelligence and Congress about problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of programs and operations, and the progress of corrective actions. This reporting function provides a level of transparency and accountability for the intelligence community.
3. Whistleblower Protection: The IGIC plays a significant role in protecting whistleblowers within the intelligence community. They’re responsible for ensuring that whistleblowers’ allegations are properly investigated and that the whistleblowers themselves are protected from retaliation.

However, it’s important to note that the IGIC does not make policy, command operations, or manage the intelligence agencies directly. Their role is one of oversight and accountability, providing independent and objective reviews of intelligence activities to prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and illegal activities. Moreover, the IGIC is an appointee of the President, meaning that their tenure is subject to the will of the President and Senate approval.

In a practical sense, the IGIC’s power is largely reliant on their ability to influence through their reports and recommendations. The extent to which these recommendations are acted upon can depend on a variety of factors, including the political climate, the attitudes of other officials, and the specific issues at hand.

One of the most prominent recent examples of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community (IC IG) being involved in a major event is the Ukraine whistleblower complaint in 2019.

In August 2019, a whistleblower filed a complaint with the IC IG, Michael Atkinson at the time, alleging that President Donald Trump had abused his office by pressuring Ukraine’s president to investigate Joe Biden, who was then a potential rival in the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

Atkinson reviewed the complaint and deemed it to be of “urgent concern,” a legal threshold that ordinarily requires notification of congressional oversight committees. However, the Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) at the time, Joseph Maguire, did not agree with Atkinson’s determination and sought guidance from the Department of Justice (DOJ), which advised him not to share the complaint with Congress.

This led to a standoff between the IC IG and the Acting DNI, which became public. As the controversy unfolded, Atkinson defended his handling of the complaint and maintained his view that the complaint was credible and of urgent concern.

This event highlights the IC IG’s role in handling whistleblower complaints, overseeing the intelligence community, and interacting with other parts of the government, including the DNI and Congress. It also shows how the IGIC can be involved in significant national events.