Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Bill Number: S. 4615
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Armed Forces and National Security
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-05-20: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 420.
Last Updated: 2026-05-29T16:51:04Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (S. 4615)

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Intelligence Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System. It also introduces reforms to intelligence community operations, structures, and oversight.

Key Provisions Outlined

Authorization of Funds: Provides funding for intelligence activities, including a specific sum of $568,000,000 for the Intelligence Community Management Account and $514,000,000 for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund.
Office of the Director of National Intelligence Reforms: Redesignates the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence as Deputy Director; establishes Assistant Directors for Mission Integration and Policy and Capabilities; repeals the National Intelligence Management Council, Intelligence Community Chief Data Officer, Innovation Unit, Climate Security Advisory Council, and other positions or programs.
Central Intelligence Agency Matters: Extends authority for unmanned aircraft systems; modifies rules for security personnel at installations; adjusts education benefits under the Higher Education Act.
Other Intelligence Community Elements: Grants the National Security Agency authority to correlate and disseminate certain intelligence; establishes an Office of Counterintelligence at the Department of the Treasury; modifies responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis to focus on foreign threats; adjusts the National Reconnaissance Office's use of funds for foreign intelligence activities.
General Intelligence Community Matters: Amends presidential appointments for various positions (some requiring Senate confirmation, others shifting to Director of National Intelligence appointment); establishes procedures for handling unmasking requests for United States person information; sets analytic standards for all-source intelligence products; creates the Ben Sasse Intelligence Community Technology Fellowship Program; prohibits use of certain adversary unmanned ground vehicles; establishes a China-Taiwan Strategic Warning Task Force; imposes limitations on Chinese products and services; prohibits support for offensive cyber operations by nongovernmental entities without authorization; addresses biological intelligence activities; prohibits participation in prediction markets by cleared personnel.
Artificial Intelligence Matters: Requires artificial intelligence exploitation guards and intelligence sharing; directs reviews of artificial intelligence use in targeting; improves policies, standards, and guidance for artificial intelligence; adds functions to the Artificial Intelligence Security Center, including a research test-bed; mandates reports on novel artificial intelligence uses; requires clear labeling of artificial intelligence outputs; supports research on artificial intelligence risks related to escalation and adversarial systems; requires proliferation assessments for artificial intelligence technology exports; reviews artificial intelligence security vulnerabilities; prohibits certain artificial intelligence models on intelligence community systems.
Other Matters: Modifies notification requirements for authorized and ordered departures; addresses frequency reallocations; protects classified budget information; expands Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States review of real estate transactions near intelligence facilities; provides intelligence support to the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; establishes processes for protecting Federal Reserve information; amends prohibitions on payments for national security information; updates espionage and trade secret offenses; provides parental bereavement leave; adjusts definitions for economic espionage; and includes technical amendments.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

Repeals multiple existing councils, offices, and programs within the National Security Act of 1947 and related statutes.
Shifts appointment authorities for positions such as the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency, Director of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and others.
Introduces new requirements for unmasking procedures, analytic standards, and intelligence sharing with specific partners like Israel and Indo-Pacific allies.
Expands or modifies authorities for elements like the National Security Agency and National Reconnaissance Office.
Adds prohibitions and limitations on activities involving adversaries, unmanned systems, and certain artificial intelligence uses.
Updates criminal provisions for espionage, trade secrets, and related offenses.

Potential Impacts on Government Agencies, Citizens, or International Relations

Government Agencies: Streamlines structures in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and other elements; imposes new reporting, training, and compliance requirements; affects funding and operational flexibility for intelligence activities.
Citizens: Enhances whistleblower protections through timely security direction; strengthens privacy considerations in unmasking and data dissemination; adds leave benefits for parental bereavement.
International Relations: Enhances intelligence sharing with allies in the Indo-Pacific and Israel; imposes restrictions on cooperation with certain foreign entities; supports monitoring of threats from China and other adversaries.

Main Stakeholders Affected by This Legislation

Elements of the intelligence community, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Homeland Security.
Congressional intelligence committees and other oversight bodies.
Foreign partners and allies, particularly those in the Five Eyes alliance, Indo-Pacific region, and Israel.
Private sector entities involved in technology, artificial intelligence, and intelligence-related activities.
Personnel within the intelligence community, including those subject to new fellowship programs, travel rules, and conduct restrictions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Updates definitions and penalties in espionage and trade secret laws; establishes new procedures for information handling and sharing; introduces prohibitions with waiver processes.
Constitutional: Modifies appointment processes for certain executive branch positions, potentially affecting Senate confirmation requirements.
Political: Focuses reforms on efficiency, counterintelligence, and emerging threats like artificial intelligence and foreign adversaries; includes bipartisan elements such as naming programs after former officials and emphasizing alliances.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

Recent Actions

2026-05-20: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 420.
2026-05-20: Select Committee on Intelligence. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Cotton. Without written report.
2026-05-20: Select Committee on Intelligence. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Cotton. Without written report.

Bill Versions

Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 — issued 2026-05-20 — PDF (194 pages)