LETTER TO HONORABLE DANIEL K. INOUYE FROM STANSFIELD TURNER

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80M00165A002000100020-0
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 18, 2004
Sequence Number: 
20
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 8, 1977
Content Type: 
LETTER
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80M00165A002000100020-0.pdf136.55 KB
Body: 
~.~a Rig ,F?: E.r r~~rnl' NOW, _r Approved For Release 20041WJPWtOCtA(RtD1801ML M65A002000100020-0 25X1 copy_ 8 SEP 1977 Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, Chairman Select Committee on Intelligence United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman: Almost exactly a year ago at the clear direction of Congress, the DCI initiated an. in-depth review of the CIA SIGINT Program and its relationship to other SIGINT activities in the Department of Defense. The study proceeded as a joint CIA/NSA activity. Attached to this letter are two documents reporting the results of this lengthy and intensive study. The first report submitted to the DCI jointly by the Director, NSA and Deputy Director, CIA in January of this year, provides a broad policy framework providing for a closer integration and coordination of the CIA SIGINT Program with the National SIGINT Program managed by the Director, NSA. This same report estab- lished a date of September 1977 for completion of a detailed implementation plan for the consolidation of the CIA SIGINT Program with the NSA program. This Consolidation Plan has now been completed and is the second document attached to this letter. As you will note, the Consolidation Plan provides greatly improved mechanisms for insuring an effective and efficient National SIGINT plan without unproductive program overlap or needless redundancy. Further the plan provides for operational tasking of CIA SIGINT activities by the Director, NSA and requires reporting of collected product in accordance with his direction, thereby achieving a more responsive and cohesive SIGINT operation. At the same time the Consolidation Plan 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/03 Approved For Release 2004/03/26 :YC1A'=RDP M00165A002000100020-0 creates an environment which encourages the ingenuity and the development of new initiatives so important in this large and extremely valuable element of the National Intelligence Program. Specifically the Plan: 1. Provides for detailed and timely program coordination between NSA and CIA during the annual program planning and budget formulation phase, 2. Gives the Director, NSA review and approval authority of the CIA SIGINT Program, 3. Establishes the Director, NSA as the opera- tional tasking authority for CIA SIGINT assets, 25X1 I know you share my view that the National SIGINT Program is a vital element of this country's intelligence effort.. It is also large in scope and costly. Since assuming my present responsibilities last March, I have been impressed that although the CIA SIGINT Program is a relatively small fraction, both in terms of dollars and people, of the total National SIGINT Program, CIA has unique operational flexibility provided by law and an impressive assembly of talent and clandestine operational experience. These two factors together with the broad base of foreign operations enable CIA to make a valuable and singular 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/03/26 CIA-RDP80~M00165AO02000100020-0 f1 r'r'w('gs Approved For Release 2004/03/26 : CIA-RDP80M00165A002000100020-0 contribution to our SIGINT effort and to my overall intelligence mission. I trust you will agree that the attached Consolidation Plan meets our mutual objective of providing an efficient, responsive, coordinated and productive National SIGINT activity while at the same time preserving the unique CIA capabilities. Please be assured that I will follow the implementation of this plan very closely. As experience indicates, I will be directing adjustments to this plan toward the end of achieving further efficiencies and operational improvements.. At your convenience, I would be glad to meet with you personally or with your subcommittee to further inform you on the results of this lengthy, joint NSA/CIA study and to elaborate on the rationale behind the final Consolidation Plan. In any case I will be prepared to give you a status report during the FY-79 program and budget hearings. Yours sincerely, Js/ Stansfield Turner STANSFIELD TURNER Enclosures (2) Distribution: 1 - Addressee w/att 2 - DCI wo/att 3 - ADDCI wo/att 4 - ER wo/att 5 - OLC wo/att 6 - Comptroller wo/att 7 - D/OSO wo/att 8 - DD/SPIT wo/att 9 & 10 - DD/SFT Reg.wo/att 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/0 gQ,: ~1A- RDP8OM 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/03/26 : CIA-RDP80M00165AO02000100020-0 Approved For Release 2004/03/26 : CIA-RDP80M00165AO02000100020-0