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119-s-5009119th Congress

MERIT Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]

Introduced

Summary

Extends the DNI’s statutory requirement that the Director have extensive national security expertise to anyone serving as acting Director of National Intelligence. It would amend Section 102(a) of the National Security Act of 1947 to explicitly apply the DNI’s qualification standard to acting directors and other officials performing those duties, ensuring temporary leaders meet the same national security expertise requirement as the confirmed Director.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stricter experience rule for acting intelligence director

If enacted, this bill would require anyone serving as Acting Director of National Intelligence, including any official performing those duties, to meet the same "extensive national security expertise" standard as a Senate-confirmed DNI. That change would affect who the President or agencies could pick for temporary or acting DNI roles. The rule would take effect upon enactment. The bill would not provide new funding or add enforcement mechanisms.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]

MI • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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