AGI joined two-dozen organizations to write House and Senate Intelligence Committees opposing a provision in the Senate Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 that would remove the general counsels of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from requiring Senate confirmation.

Retain public confirmation hearings, the groups argue, is critical to oversight of intelligence agencies as individuals in these positions will make secret decisions affecting a variety of policies. In 2013, for example, Senator Tom Udall used a confirmation hearing to surface an internal CIA report criticizing its torture program and push for the report’s release.

AGI and the signatory organizations note that the change is particularly troubling because of the appointment of Bill Plute, who lacks any intelligence experience, as acting director of national intelligence.

The letter dated July 30, 2026 is below