SENATE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS (McCARTHY COMMITTEE)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00682R000300090132-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 132
• Publication Date: March 28, 1953
• Content Type: MEMO

IB
Approved For Release 2004/03/18 : CIA
28 March 1953
Subject: Senate Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations (McCarthy Committee
1. Under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 and
the Rules of the Senate there was established a Senate Committee
on Expenditures in the Executive Departments. (The name of this
committee has now been changed to the Committee on Govern-
ment Operations and is under the chairmanship of Sen. McCarthy.)
Its jurisdiction encompasses budget and accounting measures
other than appropriations, reprganizations in the Executive Branch
of the Government, and studying the operation of Government
activities at all levels with a view to determining their economy
and efficiency. In addition, during World War II there was estab-
lished a Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense
Program, which became known as the Truman Committee. After
the war, the functions of this Special Committee were transferred
to the Senate Committee on Expenditures.
2. The broad grant of authority under the Senate Rules
which authorizes the Senate Committee on Government Operations
to make studies and investigations -of the operation of Government
activities at all levels was delegated by the full Committee to its
newly formed Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The
Subcommittee was also assigned the old functions of the Truman
Committee, noted above. In addition, it has become Senate policy
to refer to the Subcommittee any complaints or reports of irregu-
larities in the Executive Branch of the Government which call for
extensive investigation and often involve matters coming within the
jurisdiction of more than one committee. The Permanent Subcom-
mittee on Investigations is presently headed by Senator McCarthy,
who is also head of the full Committee on Government Operations.
3. In Senate Report No. 5, Activities of the Senate Com-
mittee on Government. Operations, issued in January 1953 (copy
attached), it is noted on page 62 that the Subcommittee on Investi-
gations states that it "is available and equipped to make inquiries
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in various matters involving the Executive Branch of the Govern-
ment. " The Subcommittee notes that this includes matters not
only initiated by it but also cases referred to it by other Senate
Committees or individual Senators, and it adds that "It is the
intention of the Subcommittee to continue to make available for
the Senate this investigative service in those matters coming
within its jurisdiction. " The Subcommittee further notes that it
"has followed the policy of holding public hearings only after
preliminary inquiries have indicated a factual basis and the need
for such hearings. "
4. Under Senate: Resolution 40, agreed to on 30 January
1953, $189, 000 of additional funds were authorized for the ex-
penses of the Committee. In Senate Report No. 19 (copy attached)
which accompanied S. Res. 40, it was noted that the permanent
Subcommittee on Investigations "will inquire into the administra-
tion of Government agencies to see wherein certain economies
may be effected. It is also intended that certain aspects of im-
proper influence in. Government shall be investigated, but any
inquiries undertaken will in no way interfere or transgress those
investigations which other Senate and House of Representatives
committees may be engaged in making in comparable areas of
Government operation, such as subversive activities. l
5. It is thus noted that the charter of the Senate Permanent
Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government
Operations is extremely broad. Some jurisdictional disputes are
beginning to appear in connection with the investigations on Com-
munists in Government and the Voice of America. Under the
increase of funds approved in connection with S. Res. 40, the
staff of the Subcommittee is being increased from 12 to 23 persons.
A list of the members is attached.
Walter L. p forrheimer
Legislative Counsel
Approved For Release 2004/03/18 : CIA-RDP91-00682R000300090132-7