WASHINGTON – The White House has drafted executive orders aimed at implementing the September 11 commission’s recommendations for a more powerful intelligence director and a new national counterterrorism center.

Bush administration and congressional officials said yesterday drafts of executive orders are circulating among an interagency group for approval. One of the officials said the White House is floating three proposals, and asking for feedback by Friday. The orders would:

• Enhance the powers of the government’s intelligence chief and create a national intelligence director.


• Form a national counterterrorism center, putting that office under the new intelligence director and giving the director the power to decide who runs it.


• Improve information sharing with directions aimed at facilitating the exchange information among intelligence agencies.

One congressional official said an executive order being circulated would give the CIA director the title of national intelligence director, a position recommended by the September 11 commission. The CIA director currently oversees all 15 of the nation’s intelligence agencies.

The official also said the White House has asked for the quick feedback with the hopes of making an announcement before the start of Republican National Convention, perhaps as soon as this week.

Debate over how to reshape the intelligence community in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and flawed prewar intelligence on Iraq picked up steam following the release of the September 11 commission’s 567-page report, which detailed events surrounding the attacks of September 11, 2001, and more than 40 recommendations to reform the government.

Relevant congressional committees have been working through the August recess to draft legislation to implement intelligence reforms. Even with the president’s actions, Congress is expected to continue its work on legislation to overhaul American intelligence.