Title 50War and National DefenseRelease 119-73

§3232 Counterintelligence initiatives

Title 50 › Chapter CHAPTER 44— - NATIONAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IX— - ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS › § 3232

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires the Director of National Intelligence to set up and run checks across every U.S. agency and department that handle classified national-security information. These checks must make sure they use strong operational security against counterintelligence threats. The DNI must also review distribution lists each year and keep only people who have a real and specific need to know. The DNI must make each intelligence element require employees to file the financial disclosure forms called for under subsection (b) of section 1.3 of Executive Order No. 12968 (August 2, 1995; 60 Fed. Reg. 40245; [former] 50 U.S.C. 435 note [now 50 U.S.C. 3161 note]). The DNI must also create programs to protect sensitive human‑intelligence information from being disclosed without permission.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §3232

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In order to protect intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure, the Director of National Intelligence shall establish and implement an inspection process for all agencies and departments of the United States that handle classified information relating to the national security of the United States intended to assure that those agencies and departments maintain effective operational security practices and programs directed against counterintelligence activities.
(b)The Director of National Intelligence shall establish and implement a process for all elements of the intelligence community to review, on an annual basis, individuals included on distribution lists for access to classified information. Such process shall ensure that only individuals who have a particularized “need to know” (as determined by the Director) are continued on such distribution lists.
(c)The Director of National Intelligence shall establish and implement a process by which each head of an element of the intelligence community directs that all employees of that element, in order to be granted access to classified information referred to in subsection (a) of section 1.3 of Executive Order No. 12968 (August 2, 1995; 60 Fed. Reg. 40245; [former] 50 U.S.C. 435 note [now 50 U.S.C. 3161 note]), submit financial disclosure forms as required under subsection (b) of such section.
(d)The Director of National Intelligence shall establish, for all elements of the intelligence community, programs and procedures by which sensitive classified information relating to human intelligence is safeguarded against unauthorized disclosure by employees of those elements.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 442a of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–259, § 409(1), struck out par. (1) designation before “In” and par. (2) which read as follows: “The Director shall carry out the process through the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–259, § 347(e), struck out par. (1) designation before “The Director” and par. (2) which read as follows: “Not later than October 15 of each year, the Director shall certify to the congressional intelligence committees that the review required under paragraph (1) has been conducted in all elements of the intelligence community during the preceding fiscal year.” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–259, § 409(2), struck out par. (1) designation before “The Director” and par. (2) which read as follows: “The Director shall carry out paragraph (1) through the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive.” 2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–458, § 1071(a)(1)(NN), substituted “Director of National Intelligence” for “Director of Central Intelligence”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–458, § 1071(a)(1)(OO), substituted “Director of National Intelligence” for “Director of Central Intelligence”. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 108–458, § 1071(a)(1)(PP), substituted “Director of National Intelligence” for “Director of Central Intelligence”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–458, § 1071(a)(1)(QQ), substituted “Director of National Intelligence” for “Director of Central Intelligence”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2004 AmendmentFor Determination by President that amendment by Pub. L. 108–458 take effect on Apr. 21, 2005, see Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 21, 2005, 70 F.R. 23925, set out as a note under section 3001 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 108–458 effective not later than six months after Dec. 17, 2004, except as otherwise expressly provided, see section 1097(a) of Pub. L. 108–458, set out in an

Effective Date

of 2004 Amendment; Transition Provisions note under section 3001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 3232

Title 50War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73