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To ensure that any individual serving as Director of National Intelligence in an acting capacity possesses the qualifications required of the Director of National Intelligence to have extensive national security expertise, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Requires that any individual serving as Director of National Intelligence in an acting capacity must possess the same qualifications and extensive national security expertise required of a permanent Director of National Intelligence.
- Amends the National Security Act of 1947 to extend expertise and qualification requirements to officials performing the duties of Director of National Intelligence in an acting capacity.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI] (D-MI)
Actions (2)
- Jul 16, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence. · senate
- Jul 16, 2026 Introduced in Senate
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 16, 2026
Ms. Slotkin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence
A BILL
To ensure that any individual serving as Director of National Intelligence in an acting capacity possesses the qualifications required of the Director of National Intelligence to have extensive national security expertise, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Minimum Experience Requirements for Intelligence Transition Act of 2026” or the “MERIT Act of 2026”.
SEC. 2. EXPERTISE OF ACTING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE.
Section 102(a) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3023(a)) is amended, in the second sentence, by inserting “or serving as Director of National Intelligence in an acting capacity, including any official performing the duties of such position,” before “shall have”. <all>
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