The New York Times, citing informed sources, reported that the administration of President Donald Trump is pushing for the creation of a unified intelligence register encompassing all individuals suspected of spying for foreign countries. This move aims to enhance coordination among U.S. intelligence agencies.
According to the newspaper, the administration has requested the transfer of all related information on suspects to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the coordination of U.S. intelligence efforts. This plan is part of an initiative to create a centralized database, which would also include individuals potentially targeted for intelligence recruitment.
The project has met with opposition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with concerns that consolidating this information in a single database could increase the risk of sensitive data leaks or compromise intelligence operations and undercover agents.
Conversely, supporters of the plan argue that such a unified system would allow for real-time updates and more efficient tracking of suspects, thereby enhancing the United States' counterintelligence capabilities.
As of now, U.S. authorities have not yet determined the mechanics of establishing the database or the security measures to safeguard it. Some intelligence officials have raised questions about the ability of Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Boulton to manage this sensitive project.