Bill Overview
Title: A bill to require the Director of National Intelligence to provide notification to Congress of abandoned United States military equipment used in terrorist attacks.
Description: This bill requires the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress if an intelligence community element determines that U.S. military equipment left unsecured in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Syria has been used in a terrorist attack against the United States, U.S. allies or partners, or local populations. The report must be submitted no later than 30 days after the intelligence community determination.
Sponsors: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals affected by terrorist attacks or threats
Estimated Size: 500000
- The legislation pertains to U.S. military equipment potentially used in terrorist activities, which affects national security interests.
- The bill involves the intelligence community's assessments, impacting intelligence operations and coordination.
- The focus on terrorist attacks implicates both direct victims and wider national security apparatus.
- Countries mentioned (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria) are historically volatile regions regarding terrorist activities.
Reasoning
- The impact of this policy will likely be indirect on the general population, predominantly affecting individuals working in security, defense, and intelligence sectors.
- While the budget constraints suggest limited direct services, the policy could influence broader national security priorities and resource allocations.
- Since the policy targets intelligence processes, its effect may be subtle, impacting how intelligence information is communicated and possibly leading to procedural improvements.
Simulated Interviews
Intelligence Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy will streamline how we assess the risk levels from unsecured military equipment.
- Having a structured report could enhance accountability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Data Scientist (Boston, MA)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might increase transparency, which is beneficial for my work.
- Predictive analytics could become more critical in identifying potential threats.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
University Professor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy may provide more accurate data for my research.
- It could also highlight risks that need to be addressed in policy discussions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Journalist (New York, NY)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy may enhance reporting on security issues.
- Detailed reports might provide new angles for my stories.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Ex-soldier (Austin, TX)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy addresses issues relevant to veterans like me who served in affected regions.
- While it seems like a good step, I'm skeptical about its long-term impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Military Spouse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring that there is oversight on military equipment use.
- My concern is more immediate with family safety rather than policy intricacies.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Software Developer (San Diego, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might create demand for improved cybersecurity measures, which affects my work.
- It's important to track where military equipment ends up.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired Military Officer (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reporting policy enhances accountability and strategic planning.
- Could serve as an educational case study for upcoming officers.
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 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Student (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could provide real-world examples for my studies.
- I wonder about its practical implications beyond reports.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Defense Consultant (Fairfax, VA)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Tracking unsecured equipment is vital for strategic defense planning.
- This policy seems like a necessary step for risk mitigation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 2: $3500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $5000000)
Year 5: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $5000000)
Year 10: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $5000000)
Year 100: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $5000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of intelligence operations in monitoring equipment usage may affect the precision and utility of reports.
- The urgency in reporting (30-day requirement) needs operational efficiency and thus resource availability, which could influence real-time intelligence priorities.
- The integration and coordination between the Department of Defense and intelligence community are crucial to gather accurate data.