The Future of Intelligence Outsourcing

Abstract

This chapter considers the outcome of the US government’s efforts to reform the accountability regime for intelligence contractors. The chapter shows that further efforts are and will be needed to continue fill accountability gaps and adapt the national intelligence effort to the security environment. To avoid past mistakes and provide greater coherence to this effort, adaptation should focus on three essential questions: What (not) to outsource? When to outsource? How to outsource? Answers to these questions emphasize the need for more coherent policies and planning in the domain of human resources, and in particular a more stable pool of government personnel to cope with the ebb and flow of intelligence requirements.