Director of National Intelligence

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) heads the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and oversees intelligence gathering and analysis from the 16 intelligence and counter-intelligence agencies spread through the federal Executive Branch. The 16 agencies are informally referred to as the Intelligence Community (IC). As such, the DNI holds cabinet rank and is the IC's spokesperson and direct link with the White and the President.

The position was created amidst a host of reforms and reshuffling among federal departments and agencies, including the creation of the Depart of Homeland Security, after the 9/11 attacks. Previously in the theory, the DCI, or Director of Central Intelligence who also head the CIA, served as the link between the IC and the President. The DCI was downgraded to that of merely an agency head, no longer with direct access to the President, and must report through the DNI.