Yesterday, President Biden and members of his national security team met with the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) to thank its members and staff for their service and to discuss the Board’s efforts to evaluate the U.S. Intelligence Community’s crucial work to protect our Nation. The President expressed his appreciation for the Board’s efforts to ensure the U.S. Intelligence Community’s authorities and activities are effective and comply with law and policy, specifically noting the Board’s recent study on the value of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the vital intelligence collection authority that will expire later this year unless renewed by Congress. The President particularly welcomed the Board’s unanimous finding that Congress’ failure to reauthorize Section 702 could be “one of the worst intelligence failures of our time.” The President also discussed with the Board how the Intelligence Community is set up to contribute to the U.S. Government-wide effort to combat the threat posed by illicit fentanyl. Lastly, the President emphasized his support for robust oversight of the U.S. Government’s intelligence activities and commended the Intelligence Oversight Board, a subset of the PIAB tasked with this responsibility, for its ongoing work to ensure these activities comply with the Constitution and all applicable laws, Executive Orders, and Presidential Directives.

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