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{{Short description|Legislative committee}}{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2011}}{{Use American English|date = February 2019}}

factoids

| minority_website =| chamber_rules =| committee_rules = Rules of Procedure of the Select Committee on Intelligence| notes =}}(File:US Senate Report on CIA Detention Interrogation Program.pdf|thumb|The US Senate Report on CIA Detention Interrogation Program that details the use of torture during CIA detention and interrogation.)The United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (sometimes referred to as the Intelligence Committee or SSCI) is dedicated to overseeing the United States Intelligence Community—the agencies and bureaus of the federal government of the United States that provide information and analysis for leaders of the executive and legislative branches. The Committee was established in 1976 by the 94th Congress.BOOK, Snider, L. Britt, 2008, The Agency & The Hill: CIA’s Relationship with Congress, 1946-2004, Chapter 2, CIA Center for the Study of Intelligence,www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/agency-and-the-hill/05-The%20Agency%20and%20the%20Hill_PartI-Chapter2.pdf,web.archive.org/web/20080514075014/https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/agency-and-the-hill/05-The%20Agency%20and%20the%20Hill_PartI-Chapter2.pdf, dead, May 14, 2008, June 19, 2008, The Committee is “select” in that membership is temporary and rotated among members of the chamber.WEB, Kaiser, Frederick, September 16, 2008, Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Current Structure and Alternatives, Congressional Research Service,opencrs.com/document/RL32525/, April 23, 2009, The committee comprises 15 members. Eight of those seats are reserved for one majority and one minority member of each of the following committees: Appropriations, Armed Services, Foreign Relations, and Judiciary.“Committee on Intelligence” from Riddick’s Senate Procedure Of the remaining seven, four are members of the majority, and three are members of the minority. In addition, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader are non-voting ex officio members of the committee. Also, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services (if not already a member of the select Committee) are ex officio members.WEB, Rules of Procedure, U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/about/SSCI%20Committee%20Rules_FINAL022317.pdf, 2017-03-30, March 31, 2017,web.archive.org/web/20170331025801/https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/about/SSCI%20Committee%20Rules_FINAL022317.pdf, dead, As part of its oversight responsibilities, the Committee performs an annual review of the intelligence budget submitted by the president and prepares legislation authorizing appropriations for the various civilian and military agencies and departments comprising the intelligence community. These entities include the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, as well as the intelligence-related components of Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Energy.The Committee makes recommendations to the Senate Armed Services Committee on authorizations for the intelligence-related components of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Marine Corps. The Committee also conducts periodic investigations, audits, and inspections of intelligence activities and programs.

History

The Select Committee on Intelligence was preceded by the Church Committee (1975). Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) became the first chairman of the committee when it was established until 1979.WEB, INOUYE, Daniel Ken - Biographical Information, United States Congress,bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=I000025, 19 February 2016, On July 8, 2004, the committee issued the Report of the Select Committee on Intelligence on the U.S. Intelligence Community’s Prewar Intelligence Assessments on Iraq, and on June 5, 2008, it issued a long-delayed portion of its “phase two” investigative report, which compared the prewar public statements made by top Bush administration officials to justify the invasion with the intelligence information that was available to them at that time.NEWS, Mazzetti, Mark, Shane, Scott, June 6, 2008, Bush Overstated Iraq Evidence, Senators Report, The New York Times, A1,www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/world/middleeast/06intel.html, June 17, 2008, In a March 6, 2008, letter to the Senate leadership, 14 of the 15 then members of the Committee proposed the creation of a new Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Intelligence to prepare the annual intelligence budget.WEB, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, March 6, 2008, Letter to Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell,fas.org/irp/congress/2008_cr/ssci030608.pdf, April 14, 2008, The proposed Subcommittee, on which members of the Intelligence Committee would be heavily represented, would increase the Committee’s influence and leverage over executive branch intelligence agencies, and require continuing disclosure of the annual budget for the National Intelligence Program. The proposal has been opposed by the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee, however.WEB, Senate Appropriations Committee, April 5, 2008, Letter to Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell,fas.org/irp/congress/2008_cr/app040508.pdf, April 14, 2008, In 2013, and beyond, the SSCI received renewed attention in the wake of Edward Snowden’s disclosures regarding the NSA surveillance of communications. Senator Dianne Feinstein and the SSCI made several statements on the matter, one of which was notably disputed: that the NSA tracked US citizens’ locations via cellphone. Later, the SSCI Staff Director, David Grannis, claimed that the NSA did not collect cellphone location, claiming the Senator was “speaking extemporaneously”.WEB, Ali Watkins, Senate intelligence committee director denies NSA collects data on Americans’ cellphone locations, McClatchy Washington Bureau,www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/national-security/article24756400.html, The SSCI later came to prominence in relation to voting to publish in March 2014WEB, Statement on SSCI Vote for Declassification of Torture Report, April 3, 2014, OpenTheGovernment.org,www.openthegovernment.org/node/4384, and then publishing in December 2014 of a report on the policies of the CIA on torture.In 2017, the SSCI began investigating Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, possible incriminating links between members of the Russian government and members of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign team, and the security of election processes in the United States.WEB, Tau, Byron, Senate Intelligence Committee Writing Report on Election Vulnerabilities Ahead of Midterms, WSJ, 2018-02-08,www.wsj.com/articles/senate-intelligence-committee-writing-report-on-election-vulnerabilities-ahead-of-midterms-1518121522, 2018-03-15, On April 21, 2020, the SSCI (chaired at the time by the Republican Richard Burr) released a much redacted reportWEB,www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Report_Volume4.pdf, Russian Active Measures Campaigns and Interference in the 2016 U.S. Election. Vol. 4: Review of the Intelligence Community Assessment with Additional Views, 116th Congress, 1st Session, www.intelligence.senate.gov, April 21, 2020, NEWS, Dilanian, Ken,www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/bipartisan-senate-report-says-2017-intel-assessment-about-russian-interference-n1188696, Bipartisan Senate report says 2017 intel assessment about Russian interference and Trump was accurate, April 21, 2020, NBC News, April 22, 2020, NEWS, Johnson, Kevin,www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/21/senate-intel-committee-backs-finding-russia-helped-trump-win/2998433001/, Senate committee backs intelligence agencies’ findings that Russia meddled in 2016 election, April 21, 2020, USA Today, April 22, 2020, Phillips, Kristine, with its final judgment that the intelligence community’s assessment was “coherent and well-constructed”; the SSCI therefore supports the intelligence community’s claim that Putin’s “interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election” in favor of candidate Trump was unprecedented in its “manner and aggressiveness”. Nevertheless, no direct evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia was found.NEWS, Johnson, Kevin,www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/21/senate-intel-committee-backs-finding-russia-helped-trump-win/2998433001/, Senate committee backs intelligence agencies’ findings that Russia meddled in 2016 election, April 21, 2020, USA Today, April 22, 2020, Phillips, Kristine, NEWS, Knutson, Jacob,www.axios.com/senate-inteligence-committee-russia-trump-b2f29fe2-4373-4cb5-9bc6-0f071a0be544.html, Senate Intel affirms that Russia interfered to help Trump in 2016, April 21, 2020, Axios (website), Axios, April 22, 2020, In 2018, the SSCI Director of Security James Wolfe was arrested and convicted of lying to the FBI on the leak of classified documents to a reporter with whom he was in an affair.NEWS, Ming, Chang,www.cnbc.com/2018/06/07/james-a-wolfe-former-senate-staffer-indicted-for-lying-to-fbi.html/, Former Senate staffer indicted for allegedly lying to FBI about contact with reporters, June 7, 2018, CNBC, FBI officials involved in that leaks investigation approached the reporter, Ali Watkins, about a romantic relationship she had with Wolfe, May 14, 2020, On May 14, 2020, Senator Burr, who oversaw the probe on Russian interference in the 2016 election, stepped down as SSCI chair due to an ongoing investigation regarding insider trading by Senator Burr during the COVID-19 pandemic.NEWS, Barrett, Devlin,www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/14/fbi-richard-burr-warrant/, Sen. Richard Burr stepping aside as Intelligence Committee chair amid FBI investigation of his stock sales, May 14, 2020, Washington Post, May 14, 2020, Senator McConnell announced on May 18, 2020 that Marco Rubio would replace Burr temporarily.NEWS, Lesniewski, Niels, May 18, 2020, Rubio named acting Senate Intelligence chairman,www.rollcall.com/2020/05/18/rubio-named-acting-senate-intelligence-chairman/, Roll Call, May 19, 2020,

Members, 118th Congress: January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025

{| class=wikitable! Majority{{USBill|118|SRes|30}} (118th Congress)! Minority{{USBill|118|SRes|31}} (118th Congress)

• Mark Warner, Virginia, Chairman
• Dianne Feinstein, California (until September 29, 2023)
• Ron Wyden, Oregon
• Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
• Angus King, MaineAngus King is an Independent, but caucuses with the Democrats.
• Michael Bennet, Colorado
• Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
• Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
• Jon Ossoff, Georgia
• Mark Kelly, Arizona (from October 17, 2023)WEB, Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Democratic Committee Assignments,www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/majority-leader-schumer-announces-new-senate-democratic-committee-assignments, Senate Democrats, October 17, 2023, 18 October 2023,

• Marco Rubio, Florida, Vice Chairman
• Jim Risch, Idaho
• Susan Collins, Maine
• Tom Cotton, Arkansas
• John Cornyn, Texas
• Jerry Moran, Kansas
• James Lankford, Oklahoma
• Mike Rounds, South Dakota

! colspan=2 | Ex officio

• Jack Reed, Rhode Island
• Chuck Schumer, New York

• Roger Wicker, Mississippi
• Mitch McConnell, Kentucky

Historical committee membership

117th Congress: January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2023

{| class=wikitable! Majority! Minority

• Mark Warner, Virginia, Chairman
• Dianne Feinstein, California
• Ron Wyden, Oregon
• Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
• Angus King, Maine
• Michael Bennet, Colorado
• Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
• Kirsten Gillibrand, New York

• Marco Rubio, Florida, Vice Chairman
• Richard Burr, North Carolina
• Jim Risch, Idaho
• Susan Collins, Maine
• Roy Blunt, Missouri
• Tom Cotton, Arkansas
• John Cornyn, Texas
• Ben Sasse, Nebraska

! colspan=2 | Ex officio

• Jack Reed, Rhode Island
• Chuck Schumer, New York

• Jim Inhofe, Oklahoma
• Mitch McConnell, Kentucky

116th Congress: January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021

{| class=wikitable! Majority! Minority

• Richard Burr, North Carolina, Chairman{{Small|(until May 15, 2020)}}
• Marco Rubio, Florida, Acting Chairman{{Small|(from May 18, 2020)}}
• Jim Risch, Idaho
• Susan Collins, Maine
• Roy Blunt, Missouri
• Tom Cotton, Arkansas
• John Cornyn, Texas
• Ben Sasse, Nebraska

• Mark Warner, Virginia, Vice Chairman
• Dianne Feinstein, California
• Ron Wyden, Oregon
• Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
• Angus King, Maine
• Kamala Harris, California
• Michael Bennet, Colorado

! colspan=2 | Ex officio

• Jim Inhofe, Oklahoma
• Mitch McConnell, Kentucky

• Jack Reed, Rhode Island
• Chuck Schumer, New York

Source: Member listWEB, Committee Members,www.intelligence.senate.gov/about/committee-members-116th-congress-2019-2020, U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 29 August 2019,

115th Congress: January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019

{| class=wikitable! Majority! Minority

• Richard Burr, North Carolina, Chairman
• Jim Risch, Idaho
• Marco Rubio, Florida
• Susan Collins, Maine
• Roy Blunt, Missouri
• James Lankford, Oklahoma
• Tom Cotton, Arkansas
• John Cornyn, Texas

• Mark Warner, Virginia, Vice Chairman
• Dianne Feinstein, California
• Ron Wyden, Oregon
• Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
• Angus King, MaineAngus King is an independent, but caucuses with the Democrats.
• Joe Manchin, West Virginia
• Kamala Harris, California

! colspan=2 | Ex officio

• Jim Inhofe, Oklahoma {{Small|(from September 6, 2018)}}
• John McCain, Arizona {{Small|(until August 25, 2018)}}
• Mitch McConnell, Kentucky

• Jack Reed, Rhode Island
• Chuck Schumer, New York

Source: Member ListWEB, 115th Congress (2017-2018) {{!, Intelligence Committee |website=www.intelligence.senate.gov |url=http://www.intelligence.senate.gov/about/committee-members-115th-congress-2017-2018 |access-date=2017-01-05}}

Chairs{| class“wikitable” style@text-align:center;”

! Nº! colspan=“2” | Chair! colspan=“2” | Party! State! Term| 1100px)| Daniel InouyeDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| Hawaii| 1976–1979| 2100px)| Birch BayhDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| Indiana| 1979–1981| 3100px)| Barry GoldwaterRepublican Party (United States)>Republican| Arizona| 1981–1985| 4100px)| David DurenbergerRepublican Party (United States)>Republican| Minnesota| 1985–1987| 5100px)| David BorenDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| Oklahoma| 1987–1993| 6100px)| Dennis DeConciniDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| Arizona| 1993–1995| 7100px)| Arlen SpecterRepublican Party (United States)>Republican| Pennsylvania| 1995–1997| 8100px)| Richard ShelbyRepublican Party (United States)>Republican| Alabama| 1997–2001| 9100px)| Bob GrahamDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| Florida| 2001| 10100px)| Richard ShelbyRepublican Party (United States)>Republican| Alabama| 2001| 11100px)| Bob GrahamDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| Florida| 2001–2003| 12100px)| Pat RobertsRepublican Party (United States)>Republican| Kansas| 2003–2007| 13100px)| Jay RockefellerDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| West Virginia| 2007–2009| 14100px)| Dianne FeinsteinDemocratic Party (United States)>Democratic| California| 2009–2015| 15100px)| Richard BurrRepublican Party (United States)>Republican| North Carolina| 2015–2020 bgcolor=“#e6e6aa“| 16100px)| Marco RubioActingRepublican Party (United States)>Republican| Florida| 2020–2021