Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1985
Public Law 98-618 · H.R. 5399 · 98th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 8, 1984 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Edward Boland (D-MA-2)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1985 - Title I: Intelligence Activities - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities in specified departments and agencies of the U.S. Government, including the Central Intelligence Agency (Agency) and the Department of Defense.
Requires the Director of Central Intelligence or the Secretary of Defense to notify the appropriate congressional committees of any intent to spend funds other than as specifically authorized. Prohibits reprogramming or fund transfers except in restricted circumstances.
Authorizes appropriations for the design and construction of a new building at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters compound.
Authorizes additional sums for the conduct of counter terrorist activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Authorizes the Director of Central Intelligence to employ civilian personnel in excess of the ceiling for such personnel when necessary to the performance of important intelligence functions. Requires notice to the appropriate congressional committees whenever such authority is exercised.
Title II: Intelligence Community Staff - Authorizes appropriations for Intelligence Community Staff for FY 1985. Establishes an end strength ceiling of 232 full-time Intelligence Community Staff employees.
Title III: Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1985 for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability Fund.
Title IV: Administrative Provisions Relating to Intelligence Agencies - Amends the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1946 to allow the Director to appoint security personnel at agency installations.
Title V: Defense Intelligence Agency Personnel Management Improvements - Revises certain management policies regarding civilian personnel within the Defense Intelligence Agency (including hiring and compensation). Exempts the Defense Intelligence Agency from civil service laws. Permits the Defense Intelligence Agency to withhold disclosure of information on its organization, function or personnel except for information required by the National Security Act of 1947. Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to terminate employment of any civilian officer or employee when it is in the interest of the United States.
Title VI: Counterintelligence and Official Representation - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the numbers, status, privileges and immunities within the United States of official representatives of any foreign government engaged in intelligence activities harmful to U.S. security should not exceed the respective numbers, status, privileges and immunities within such country of official representatives of the United States.
Directs the President to report annually to specified congressional committees on these matters.
Requires either the Deputy Director or the Director of the Office of Foreign Missions to have served in the Foreign Service, while the other has served in the United States Intelligence Community.
Title VII: General Provisions - Provides that the authorization of appropriations shall not constitute authority for the conduct of any intelligence activity not otherwise authorized by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
Title VIII: Activities in Nicaragua - Prohibits any appropriations to be expended for the purpose of supporting (directly or indirectly) the military or paramilitary operations in Nicaragua by any nation, group, or individual except as provided by H.J. Res. 648.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- Nov 8, 1984Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 98-618.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 29, 1984PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 11, 1984Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate in lieu of S. 2713 with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- Aug 2, 1984FloorFloor · Passed House by Yea-Nay Vote: 294 - 118 (Record Vote No: 343).House roll call 343
- FloorFloor · Rule Passed House.
- May 23, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Armed Services Committee
- May 10, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services Committee
- Apr 11, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
- Apr 10, 1984CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.