Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does the director of national intelligence coordinate U.S. intelligence agencies?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

military intelligence U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency headquarters, Washington, D.C.

The director of national intelligence (DNI) coordinates the U.S. Intelligence Community—a collection of 18 military and civilian agencies—by serving as its head and managing the National Intelligence Program.12

Supported by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the DNI works to improve communication and integration among these agencies, a mandate established following the September 11 attacks and intelligence failures regarding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. By instituting systems to ensure that key organizations, such as the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, work together effectively, the DNI acts as the government’s principal adviser on national security intelligence matters.12

The DNI is appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate and serves within the cabinet.2