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-(St NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE • WASHINGTON. D C.

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OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR 4 May 1978

MEMOltiVDUK FOR THE DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (POLICY)

SUBJECT: Intelligence Charter Legislation - Title VI

1,

I understand that Title VI of S 2525 is scheduled to be reviewed by

the Special Coordination Committee of the MSC on 12 May. I think it is

very important that prior to that formal review the issue of the wording

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On 3 April, representatives of my Staff met with personnel from your

office, NSA, JCS, DIA and the Services to resolve differences and reach

an agreement on this issue. NSA continues to assert that the wording is

sufficiently broad to permit the Director, NSA to delegate operational

control of MR? SICINT satellites to the Director of the National

Reconnaissance Office. This interpretation would be correct if Title VI

is permitted to stand as written. However, the proposed legislation

would give the Director, NSA this authority for the first time. The

source of the delegation of operational control for reconnaissance

satellites to the DNRO is and always has been the Secretary of Defense

and not the Director, NSA.

I believe that the present wording which gives the Director,

NSA control over "all signals intelligence collection" not only is incon-.

sistent with the Executive Order 12036, but also fails to acknowledge

the existing and long standing MR0 role in controlling and operating NRP

SIGINT satellites.

I recommend that either qualifying phraseology, such as that found

in Section 1-1202 of E.O. 12036, be inserted, or that a sentence be added

to clearly indicate that the Secretary of Defense may delegate responsibility for operational control of SKINT activities to other entities. I

believe that Title VI, as written, does not explicitly acknowledge

Secretary of Defense authority to reassign responsibilities for the conduct

of SKINT activities.

Attached for your consideration are two proposed changes which would

alleviate our concerns. I am anxious to discuss this matter with you at

your earliest convenience.

1 Attachment

Proposed Changes

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PROPOSED CHANGES

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TITLE VI - INTELLIGENCE CHARTER LEGISLATION

-4 - Proposal No. 1

(5) Control all signal intelligence collection, excepting

the delegation of operational control over certain operation. that are

conducted through other members of the Intelligence Community, processing,

reporting and dissemination activities of the United States in

accordance with intelligence policies, needs and priorities

established by the National Security Council and intelligence

objectives and targets promulgated by the Director, National

Intelligence. No department or agency mmy engage in signals intelligence activities except rameant to a delegation by the Secretary of Defense.

Proposal No. 2

(5) Control nit signal intelligence collection, processing,

reporting and dissemination activities of the United States in

accordance with intelligence policies, needs and priorities

established by the National Security Council and intelligence

objectives and targets promulgated by the Director, National

Intelligence. The Secretary of Defense way delegate operational

control over SKINT collection to other agencies or departments.

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