Edit Organization: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

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'''Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI)''' is a select committee of the U.S. Senate, established in 1976, tasked with overseeing the United States Intelligence Community, including agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI, to ensure effective national security while maintaining accountability and transparency within legal bounds. {{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/}} ==Mission== The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence aims to provide continuous oversight of U.S. intelligence operations, ensuring they protect national security without compromising constitutional principles. It conducts studies, holds hearings (mostly closed), authorizes the annual intelligence budget, investigates significant intelligence matters, and submits legislative proposals to the Senate, fostering bipartisan cooperation on intelligence policy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/about |title=About the Committee |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Parent organization== The SSCI operates under the [[United States Senate]], within the [[United States Congress]], reflecting its role as a legislative oversight body with temporary, rotating membership distinct from standing committees.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/committees/ |title=Senate Committees |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Legislation== The SSCI was created by [https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/94-755.pdf Senate Resolution 400], passed on May 19, 1976, in the 94th Congress, following the Church Committee’s revelations of intelligence abuses, establishing a permanent oversight framework.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/about/history |title=Committee History |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Partners== * Intelligence Community agencies (e.g., CIA, NSA, FBI) for oversight * House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) for bicameral coordination * Senate Armed Services Committee for military intelligence funding ==Number of employees== The SSCI does not employ staff directly under its name; it relies on a professional staff of approximately 40-50, including analysts and investigators, managed by a Staff Director, with numbers fluctuating based on workload and congressional session.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/about |title=About the Committee |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Organization structure== The SSCI is a bipartisan committee with a fixed membership structure: ===Leader=== The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is led by a Chairman, currently Mark Warner (D-VA) as of the 119th Congress, with Marco Rubio (R-FL) as Vice Chairman.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/members |title=Committee Members |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ===Divisions=== The committee operates as a single entity but includes: * Oversight Team for daily Intelligence Community monitoring. * Legislative Team for drafting authorization bills. * Investigative Team for special inquiries (e.g., Russian interference). ==List of programs== * Annual Intelligence Authorization Act<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/legislation |title=Legislation |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> * Worldwide Threat Assessment Hearings * Russian Election Interference Investigation (2017-2020) ==Last total enacted budget== The SSCI’s operational budget is not separately detailed; it’s funded within the Senate’s FY 2024 budget of $1.1 billion, with staff and activities supported through general legislative appropriations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/pdf/Senate-Budget-2024.pdf |title=Senate Budget FY 2024 |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Staff== The SSCI staff includes about 40-50 professionals—policy experts, lawyers, and intelligence analysts—hired by the Chairman and Vice Chairman, working in a nonpartisan capacity to review intelligence reports, conduct investigations, and prepare legislation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/about |title=About the Committee |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Funding== Since 1976, the SSCI has been funded through Senate appropriations, with FY 2024’s $1.1 billion Senate budget covering its operations, supplemented by access to classified Intelligence Community budget details it oversees.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/pdf/Senate-Budget-2024.pdf |title=Senate Budget FY 2024 |publisher=United States Senate |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Services provided== The SSCI conducts oversight through closed and occasional open hearings (e.g., annual threat assessments), authorizes intelligence budgets (e.g., FY 2024’s Intelligence Authorization Act), investigates issues like CIA torture (2014 report) and Russian interference (2020 report), and advises on policy to ensure lawful intelligence activities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/hearings |title=Hearings |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Regulations overseen== The SSCI does not create regulations but oversees compliance with laws like the National Security Act of 1947, ensuring Intelligence Community activities adhere to constitutional standards through legislative recommendations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/about |title=About the Committee |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Headquarters address== 211 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 ==History== Established on May 19, 1976, via Senate Resolution 400 after the Church Committee exposed intelligence abuses (e.g., CIA’s MKUltra), the SSCI replaced ad hoc oversight with a permanent body. It gained prominence with reports on Iraq WMD (2004), CIA torture (2014), and Russian election interference (2020), evolving to address modern threats like cybersecurity and foreign influence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/about/history |title=Committee History |publisher=Senate Select Committee on Intelligence |access-date=March 14, 2025}}</ref> ==Related== See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations: * [[United States Senate]] * [[House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence]] * [[Central Intelligence Agency]] ==External links== * [https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/ Official Website] * [[wikipedia:United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence]] * [https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/publications Committee Publications] ==References== <references />