John Negroponte, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, was the first director of national intelligence (DNI), sworn into office in April 2005. As of 2026 there have been nine DNIs. The 2004 law that created the position states that anyone holding it must have “extensive national security expertise.” While that was largely true of the first directors of national intelligence, those who have been appointed to the role during the administrations of Donald Trump have stirred controversy in part because of their lack of experience.
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