Bill Overview
Title: Intelligence Community Authorities Clarification Act
Description: This bill prohibits the elements of the intelligence community from conducting any intelligence-related activities that do not have a nexus to foreign intelligence or counterintelligence. The President may waive this prohibition for a period of up to one year if the President provides to Congress a written declaration that the waiver is important to U.S. national security interests.
Sponsors: Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by U.S. intelligence and counterintelligence operations
Estimated Size: 3000000
- The Intelligence Community Authorities Clarification Act will primarily impact individuals involved in intelligence and counterintelligence activities, focusing specifically on activities with a nexus to foreign intelligence or counterintelligence.
- This includes employees and contractors within the U.S. intelligence agencies, as their operational scope may be narrowed by the prohibition unless a presidential waiver is obtained.
- Individuals who might be potential subjects of domestic intelligence activities without foreign nexus could also see an impact due to reduced surveillance and intelligence operations.
- The president and administration officials involved in determining the necessity of waivers to bypass the prohibition will be affected by the act.
- The general public could experience a change in how intelligence activities are conducted within the United States, potentially affecting national security outcomes.
Reasoning
- The policy will primarily impact professionals within the intelligence community, who might experience changes in the scope of their work and security activities. Their wellbeing may be affected due to potential job changes and responsibility adjustments.
- Individuals who previously were subjects of domestic intelligence activities could see increased privacy and potentially reduced anxiety about surveillance, improving their wellbeing.
- The broader public may have diverging views about the policy's impact on national security, affecting their sense of safety and wellbeing differently depending on personal beliefs.
- The financial budget of $10,000,000 for year 1 suggests that only significant changes will be funded, likely affecting high-level operations rather than everyday intelligence activities.
- The long-term budget suggests a gradual adaptation of operations over 10 years, influencing wellbeing more subtly over time for the broader population.
Simulated Interviews
Intelligence Analyst (Langley, VA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy directive might narrow the scope of our operations, which could limit our effectiveness.
- I'm concerned about potential resource reallocation or job reassignment due to operational changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Policy Advisor (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might make us more focused, but it might also lead to gaps in intelligence.
- I'm mainly worried about the cumbersome process for waivers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cybersecurity Specialist (Fort Meade, MD)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My work is foreign-focused, so this policy won’t directly impact me.
- However, a more restricted scope might affect collaborative projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Civil Rights Advocate (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy limits what I perceive as overreach by the intelligence community, which is a positive step.
- I'm in favor of more transparency and limitations on intelligence activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Journalist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could lead to fewer leaks and more focused intelligence reporting.
- Could benefit journalism by prompting more transparent practices within the community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Software Engineer (Denver, CO)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With this policy, there might be fewer contract opportunities related to domestic projects.
- The focus on foreign intelligence might foster clearer guidelines for tech development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Tech Entrepreneur (Miami, FL)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any policy that restricts broad data use by intelligence agencies is beneficial for business.
- It aligns with growing consumer demand for privacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Graduate Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy represents a tension between national security and public privacy.
- It's important for my studies, analyzing policy impact on international relations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Defense Contractor (Dallas, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could streamline operations but we need clarity on its reach.
- Long-term contracts might need renegotiation to align with new guidelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Public School Teacher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad this policy might reduce random surveillance; it could represent progress for civil liberties.
- It's a complex balance of rights and security for society.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $11000000 (Low: $5500000, High: $16000000)
Year 3: $12000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $17000000)
Year 5: $13000000 (Low: $6500000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $15000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $150000000)
Key Considerations
- The potential impact on national security due to restricted intelligence operations must be weighed against cost savings.
- There may need to be an ongoing legislative review of the effectiveness and necessity of the waiver process.