1. U.S. Code
  2. title 50
  3. chapter 44
  4. § 3001

Collapse to view only § 3001. Short title

§ 3001. Short title

This chapter may be cited as the “National Security Act of 1947”.

(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, § 1, 61 Stat. 495.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 3001

§ 3002. Congressional declaration of purpose

In enacting this chapter, it is the intent of Congress to provide a comprehensive program for the future security of the United States; to provide for the establishment of integrated policies and procedures for the departments, agencies, and functions of the Government relating to the national security; to provide a Department of Defense, including the three military Departments of the Army, the Navy (including naval aviation and the United States Marine Corps), and the Air Force under the direction, authority, and control of the Secretary of Defense; to provide that each military department shall be separately organized under its own Secretary and shall function under the direction, authority, and control of the Secretary of Defense; to provide for their unified direction under civilian control of the Secretary of Defense but not to merge these departments or services; to provide for the establishment of unified or specified combatant commands, and a clear and direct line of command to such commands; to eliminate unnecessary duplication in the Department of Defense, and particularly in the field of research and engineering by vesting its overall direction and control in the Secretary of Defense; to provide more effective, efficient, and economical administration in the Department of Defense; to provide for the unified strategic direction of the combatant forces, for their operation under unified command, and for their integration into an efficient team of land, naval, and air forces but not to establish a single Chief of Staff over the armed forces nor an overall armed forces general staff.

(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, § 2, 61 Stat. 496; Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, § 2, 63 Stat. 579; Pub. L. 85–599, § 2, Aug. 6, 1958, 72 Stat. 514.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 3002

§ 3003. DefinitionsAs used in this chapter:
(1) The term “intelligence” includes foreign intelligence and counterintelligence.
(2) The term “foreign intelligence” means information relating to the capabilities, intentions, or activities of foreign governments or elements thereof, foreign organizations, or foreign persons, or international terrorist activities.
(3) The term “counterintelligence” means information gathered, and activities conducted, to protect against espionage, other intelligence activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted by or on behalf of foreign governments or elements thereof, foreign organizations, or foreign persons, or international terrorist activities.
(4) The term “intelligence community” includes the following:
(A) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
(B) The Central Intelligence Agency.
(C) The National Security Agency.
(D) The Defense Intelligence Agency.
(E) The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
(F) The National Reconnaissance Office.
(G) Other offices within the Department of Defense for the collection of specialized national intelligence through reconnaissance programs.
(H) The intelligence elements of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Space Force, the Coast Guard, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Department of Energy.
(I) The Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the Department of State.
(J) The Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of the Treasury.
(K) The Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security.
(L) Such other elements of any department or agency as may be designated by the President, or designated jointly by the Director of National Intelligence and the head of the department or agency concerned, as an element of the intelligence community.
(5) The terms “national intelligence” and “intelligence related to national security” refer to all intelligence, regardless of the source from which derived and including information gathered within or outside the United States, that—
(A) pertains, as determined consistent with any guidance issued by the President, to more than one United States Government agency; and
(B) that involves—
(i) threats to the United States, its people, property, or interests;
(ii) the development, proliferation, or use of weapons of mass destruction; or
(iii) any other matter bearing on United States national or homeland security.
(6) The term “National Intelligence Program” refers to all programs, projects, and activities of the intelligence community, as well as any other programs of the intelligence community designated jointly by the Director of National Intelligence and the head of a United States department or agency or by the President. Such term does not include programs, projects, or activities of the military departments to acquire intelligence solely for the planning and conduct of tactical military operations by United States Armed Forces.
(7) The term “congressional intelligence committees” means—
(A) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(B) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, § 3, as added Pub. L. 102–496, title VII, § 702, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3188; amended Pub. L. 103–359, title V, § 501(a)(1), Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3428; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title XI, § 1122(b)(1), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2687; Pub. L. 107–56, title IX, § 902, Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 387; Pub. L. 107–108, title I, § 105, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1397; Pub. L. 107–296, title II, § 201(h), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2149; Pub. L. 107–306, title III, § 353(a), Nov. 27, 2002, 116 Stat. 2401; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title IX, § 921(e)(1), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1569; Pub. L. 108–177, title I, § 105(d)(1), Dec. 13, 2003, 117 Stat. 2603; Pub. L. 108–458, title I, §§ 1012, 1073, 1074(a), Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3662, 3693, 3694; Pub. L. 111–259, title IV, § 441, title VIII, § 804(1), Oct. 7, 2010, 124 Stat. 2732, 2747; Pub. L. 112–87, title IV, § 431, title V, § 505(1), Jan. 3, 2012, 125 Stat. 1894, 1897; Pub. L. 117–263, div. F, title LXIV, § 6421, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3530.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 3003

§ 3004. Definitions of military departments
(a) The term “Department of the Army” as used in this chapter shall be construed to mean the Department of the Army at the seat of the government and all field headquarters, forces, reserve components, installations, activities, and functions under the control or supervision of the Department of the Army.
(b) The term “Department of the Navy” as used in this chapter shall be construed to mean the Department of the Navy at the seat of the government; the headquarters, United States Marine Corps; the entire operating forces of the United States Navy, including naval aviation, and of the United States Marine Corps, including the reserve components of such forces; all field activities, headquarters, forces, bases, installations, activities, and functions under the control or supervision of the Department of the Navy; and the United States Coast Guard when operating as a part of the Navy pursuant to law.
(c) The term “Department of the Air Force” as used in this chapter shall be construed to mean the Department of the Air Force at the seat of the government and all field headquarters, forces, reserve components, installations, activities, and functions under the control or supervision of the Department of the Air Force.
(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II, §§ 205(b), 206, 207, formerly §§ 205(c), 206(a), 207(c), 61 Stat. 501, 502; renumbered §§ 205(b), 206, 207, Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXVII, § 6742(b)(7)–(9), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2240.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 3004

§ 3005. Department of Defense

Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or other provisions of law, the provisions of title 5 shall be applicable to the Department of Defense.

(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II, § 201, as added Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LXVII, § 6742(b)(6), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2240.)

CITE AS: 50 USC 3005

§ 3006. Transferred

CITE AS: 50 USC 3006