Congressional oversight of controlled access programs
50 U.S.C. § 3091a
in effect(a) Periodic briefings(1) RequirementNot less frequently than semiannually or upon request by one of the appropriate congressional committees or a member of congressional leadership, the Director of National Intelligence shall provide to such committees and congressional leadership a briefing on each controlled access program in effect. (2) ContentsEach briefing provided under paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, the following:(A) A description of the activity of the controlled access programs during the period covered by the briefing. (B) Documentation with respect to how the controlled access programs have achieved outcomes consistent with requirements documented by the Director and, as applicable, the Secretary of Defense.
(b) Limitations(1) EstablishmentA head of an element of the intelligence community may not establish a controlled access program, or a compartment or subcompartment therein, until the head notifies the appropriate congressional committees and congressional leadership of such controlled access program, compartment, or subcompartment, as the case may be. (2) Transfers(A) LimitationExcept as provided in subparagraph (B), a head of an element of the intelligence community may not transfer a capability from a controlled access program, including from a compartment or subcompartment therein to a compartment or subcompartment of another controlled access program, to a special access program (as defined in section 3348(g) of this title), or to anything else outside the controlled access program, until the head submits to the appropriate congressional committees and congressional leadership notice of the intent of the head to make such transfer. (B) ExceptionThe head of an element of the intelligence community may make a transfer described in subparagraph (A) without prior congressional notification if the head determines that doing so—(i) is required to mitigate an urgent counterintelligence issue; or (ii) is necessary to maintain access in the event of an organizational restructuring.
(c) Limitation on spendingFunds authorized to be appropriated for the National Intelligence Program may not be obligated or expended for any controlled access program, or a compartment or subcompartment therein, until the head of the element of the intelligence community responsible for the establishment of such program, compartment, or subcompartment, submits the notification required by subsection (b).
(d) Annual reports(1) RequirementOn an annual basis, the head of each element of the intelligence community shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and congressional leadership a report on controlled access programs administered by the head. (2) Matters includedEach report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the period covered by the report, the following:(A) A list of all compartments and subcompartments of controlled access programs active as of the date of the report. (B) A list of all compartments and subcompartments of controlled access programs terminated during the period covered by the report. (C) With respect to the report submitted by the Director of National Intelligence, in addition to the matters specified in clauses (A) and (B)—(i) a certification regarding whether the creation, validation, or substantial modification, including termination, for all existing and proposed controlled access programs, and the compartments and subcompartments within each, are substantiated and justified based on the information required by clause (ii); and (ii) for each certification—(I) the rationale for the revalidation, validation, or substantial modification, including termination, of each controlled access program, compartment, and subcompartment; (II) the identification of a control officer for each controlled access program; and (III) a statement of protection requirements for each controlled access program.
(e) DefinitionsIn this section:(1) Appropriate congressional committeesThe term “appropriate congressional committees” means—(A) the congressional intelligence committees; (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Congressional leadershipThe term “congressional leadership” means—(A) the majority leader of the Senate; (B) the minority leader of the Senate; (C) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and (D) the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (3) Controlled access programThe term “controlled access program” means a program created or managed pursuant to Intelligence Community Directive 906, or successor directive.
Source: OLRC USLMURL: https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/95/xml_usc50@119-95.zipFetched: 6/7/2026