“—~ CO Jos ots Feorusry 17, 9700 ee ° -\ Watfonal Security Decision Mersrandum 46 .p-10 "TO: The Secretary of State ee 7 . 7 . The Secretary of Defense The Director of Central Intelligence ° SUBJECT: Responsibility for the Conduct, Supervision and Coordination of Covert Action Operations e . . : : ry « - ° < : : . . . rs . . ° I have determined that it is essential to the defense and security *. ef the United States and its efferts for world peace that the " overt foreign activities of the U.S. Government continue to be supplenented by covert action operations. . _°. By covert action operations I mean those activities which, although designed to further official U.S. pregrams and policies abroad, are “ so planned and executed that the hand of the U.S. Government is act apparent to unaucherized persons. me . ~ ‘The covert actions of the U. S. Government abroad shall be subject - “to coordination and control by the Directer of Central Intelligence. Ail such covert action operaticas, unless otherwise specifically assigned by the President, shall be carried out by the’Central : Intelligence Agency. The Director of Central Intelligence shall be responsible for assuring that covert actien operations are planned and conducted in a manner consistent with U.S. forcign and ailitary : policies, and for consulting with and obtaining appropriate coordi- - nation from any other interested agen-ies or officers on a neec-to- know basis. The Director of Central Intelligence shall obtain . policy approval for ail major and/or politically sensitive covert action programs. through The 40 Comaictee. ; . eee ante e - « The 40 Committee as presently constituted consists of the Assist-nt - .. to the President for National Security Affairs as Chaimaan, the . * Attorney Cencral, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, , the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Director of Central Intelligence. . The Director of Central Intelligence will be responsible for insuring 7 an annual review by The 40 Committee of all covert action proyrams 1 previously approved. .
Also subject to The 40 Committee's policy review and specifle operationcl mission approval are the follewing programs origina- tins {fn che Deparecmenc of Defense: the monthly Joint Reconnals- sanee Cencer Schedule, a soe mom ee ae ee = ee eee . Furthersmorc, any proposals for covert activities or operations froa cgencies ret represented ca The 40 Committee shall te subjece to that comeittee'’s approvai unless otherwise directed by the Presicent. Lo Covers action operations shall ‘inelude any type of activity necessary Co carry out approved purposes excest that they will mot include armed conflice by regular military forces; or cover end deception for active military operations by PhE araed for recs ° 7. © “st .e Of. the Usiecd St2tes. . ; 7 re oe ot - - se ' This dizective supersedes and rescinds NSC 5612/2. ec; The Attorney General - :, The Assistant to the President wy :: (for National Security Affairs ** . . -« : o . - . . © _- « ad ~ - - ett -- - - — : - ~ - ewe - - cet eee ° - . e ° “el oot : . - ~ . . wee elt e ~e. . - : « e . - ° . . wee ek e - wnm ewe e . 3 ° . . 2 .. - - wee - - o? - we ee - ih a 2) ; ee