Turbocharge PIAB to DOGE-ify the intelligence community

A rejuvenated, for-real President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) will help President Trump and his team stay focused on digging out the inefficiency and rot inside our intelligence community (IC), and rebuilding the IC to become the envy of the world.

It will help build an IC that serves, and doesn’t abuse, American citizens.

For decades, the PIAB has been a dumping ground for campaign donors, retired intelligence and other personnel, and so forth, with little real influence or value. Consequently, the IC has mostly governed itself.

A turbocharged, DOGE-ified PIAB, with dedicated, energetic members across generations to bring the right combination of vision and experience, should be an important element in the Trump47 presidency.

It can provide an extra measure of presidential control and oversight, and do a lot of the heavy lifting that the president’s agency appointees will be too busy to do.

What is the PIAB and what does it do?

PIAB is an independent unit within the Executive Office of the President. Here is an outline of its role, structure, and functioning:

Role and Function:

• Advisory Role: PIAB provides advice to the President concerning the quality, adequacy, and effectiveness of intelligence collection, analysis, counterintelligence, and other intelligence activities. It aims to ensure that the Intelligence Community (IC) is meeting the nation’s intelligence needs efficiently and effectively. It can also advise on what to do about inefficiency, rot, and politicization.
• Expanded Advisory Role: President Trump can expand PIAB’s role as a place to do the deep thinking, analysis, and policy proposals that his IC agency leaders simply won’t have time to do.
• Oversight: Through its Intelligence Oversight Board (IOB), PIAB also oversees the legality and propriety of U.S. intelligence activities, ensuring compliance with the Constitution, laws, Executive Orders, and Presidential Directives.

Structure and Membership:

• Members: The board consists of not more than 16 members, all appointed by the President from outside the government. PIAB members remain private citizens. They are chosen for their expertise, independence, and integrity. They serve without compensation but can receive travel expenses. This is an excellent way for people to serve without having to relocate to Washington.
• Leadership: The President designates a Chairman from among the members, who convenes and presides over meetings, sets the agenda, and directs the work of the Board. The President can also expand the authority of his Chairman.

Staff and Resources:

• Professional Staff: The PIAB utilizes full-time professional and administrative staff. These staff members are authorized by the Chairman and approved by the President or a designee. The staff supports the board’s operations and research needs.
• Executive Director: The staff is typically headed by an Executive Director appointed by the President. This position can also serve as the Executive Director for the IOB.
• Access to Information: PIAB has access to all information necessary to perform its functions, which includes intelligence data from various agencies. This access is crucial for their advisory and oversight roles.
• Funding: Compensation and allowances for the Board, Executive Secretary, staff, and other expenses are generally allocated from appropriations for special projects within the Executive Office of the President.

Functioning:

• Meetings and Reports: The PIAB meets as necessary to discuss and review intelligence activities. It reports its findings and recommendations to the President, typically not less than twice a year.
• Recommendations: When the Board makes recommendations, agencies are expected to implement them. This is a vital means for the President to exercise control of the huge intelligence community. If not implemented, the head of the concerned department must report to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and then to the PIAB or the President with reasons for non-implementation.
• Confidentiality: The board maintains strict confidentiality regarding its deliberations, communications, and advice to ensure objectivity and protect sensitive information.
• Historical Context: Established initially by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 as the President’s Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligence Activities, it has evolved through various administrations, with changes in names and functions, reflecting shifts in presidential priorities and intelligence oversight needs.