Senator Susan Collins, who authored the intelligence reform law that created the Director of National Intelligence, has released this statement in response to reports of the expected announcement that John Negroponte will resign from that position:
“I am disappointed that John Negroponte is expected to leave his position as Director of National Intelligence.
“As the principal adviser to the President for intelligence matters and as head of the Intelligence Community, the Director of National Intelligence plays a critical role in protecting our nation. Director Negroponte’s tenure was particularly important, however, as he was the first Director to assume the post after passage of the Collins-Lieberman intelligence reform legislation – the most significant reform of the nation’s intelligence services in fifty years.
“Under Director Negroponte our Intelligence Community has made significant progress on reform, but more must be done in areas such as information sharing, human intelligence collection, budget, and intelligence analysis.”
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