BACKGROUND/TALKING POINTS REGARDING CIA/GAO RELATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86B00338R000400550016-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: February 21, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

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NOTE FOR: Chief, Liaison Division
FROM: 25X1
raison Division
SUBJECT: Background/Talking Points Regarding CIA/GAO
Relations
1. CIA is not enthusiastic about dealing with GAO. GAO
is an investigative arm of Congress, and we never feel
certain as to how the information CIA provides is going to be
used or whether it willie portrayed fairly. There is long-
standing low-level tension in the relationship.
2. In 1978-79 CIA and GAO held "informal discussions" to
try to establish mutually acceptable guidelines for their
relationship. From CIA's standpoint, the main objective was
to re-emphasize that CIA maintains the option of deciding
whether and how extensively it will respond to GAO requests.
In addition, CIA must retain the right to review and amend
any GAO reports that reference CIA as a contributor.
3. In recent months we have had some difficulty with GAO
in trying to uphold the ground rules of the relationship.
The DI is willing to cooperate, where possible, on GAO
projects that have been requested by Congress, but not on
those that GAO initiates itself. Problems have also arisen
on other matters.
1) GAO staffers directly calling DI analysts. This
places our analysts in jeopardy. GAO must work
through OLL.
2) GAO not accepting "no" for an answer. The DI
does not have expertise on everything the GAO
asks about, particularly on highly specialized
economic topics. On other topics, such as tech-
transfer, the material is too sensitive to discuss
with GAO. On such matters we prefer to talk
with the Congressional Committee or Congressman
which tasked GAO.
3) GAO looking for research or editing help from DI
analysts.
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4) GAO requests not being clear enough. C~ey
should submit written requests. His requests
often are difficult to field because his information
is inadequate.
5) GAO not recognizing CIA's right to withhold sensitive
publications, such as NIEs. As a practice, we prefer
not to give GAO any classified documents.
4. As a matter of fact, it is hard to sell GAO requests
in the DI. It means extra work for the analysts, the risks
of being misinterpreted are ever-present, and GAO's final
products are not held in high regard.
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