ISP Director Proposes Change to Intelligence Briefings Provided to Presidential Candidates

In a November 4 essay posted on Foreign Policy’s “Shadow Government” site, Intelligence Studies Project Director Steve Slick proposed that future presidents curtail the practice of offering pre-election intelligence briefings to the major party candidates.

From Now On, Let’s Hold Intelligence Briefings After The Election traces this tradition to President Harry Truman’s generous offer to the candidates competing to replace him more than 60 years ago, but argues that modern presidential candidates neither need nor want these generalized briefings on global issues.  The 2016 campaign illustrated how sensitive information may be compromised and the integrity of U.S. Intelligence damaged when candidates “politicize” the briefing process.  In view of these real risks, and the absence of any tangible benefit to the candidates or the electoral process, Slick argues that intelligence briefings should begin after election day for a President-elect who will both want and need them.

The complete essay can be accessed here.