Who is responsible for defining construction and security requirements for SCIFs?

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is responsible for defining the construction and security requirements for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs). This role includes overseeing standards and guidelines that ensure SCIFs are properly designed to safeguard classified information as part of the national intelligence community. The DNI’s authority encompasses a broad range of entities and agencies involved in intelligence, thus representing a coordinating and regulatory function that is crucial for maintaining security and operational integrity across the various compartments of classified information.

While the Department of Defense and the Central Intelligence Agency also play significant roles in national security and intelligence, their responsibilities do not specifically extend to the overall regulatory authority regarding SCIF construction and security. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, while involved in security matters, particularly with domestic threats and law enforcement, does not have the responsibility for SCIF requirements as designated by the intelligence community's structured governance. Therefore, the distinct role of the DNI in this context emphasizes their influence and responsibility in establishing the requisite standards for SCIFs.