Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Carl joined the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in 1997 and currently serves as an ex officio member in his capacity as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The Senate created the Select Committee on Intelligence in May 1976 after the Church Committee investigation into U.S. intelligence activities documented a series of abuses and illegal acts performed by U.S. officials both domestically and abroad. Fifteen senators serve on the Select Committee on Intelligence, with the majority party in Congress having one more member than the minority.

In addition to its role in annually authorizing appropriations for U.S. intelligence activities, the Select Committee on Intelligence has primary responsibility for congressional oversight of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the other federal government organizations comprising the U.S. intelligence community.

The Select Committee on Intelligence also handles presidential nominations referred to the Senate for the positions of the Director of Central Intelligence, the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence and the Inspector General of the CIA. The Intelligence Committee also reviews treaties referred to the Senate for ratification as necessary to determine the ability of the U.S. intelligence community to verify the provisions of the treaty under consideration.

For more information on Senator Levin's work on intelligence and national security issues, visit the national security issues page.