However , on November 10 , 2009 , the White House decided in the CIA 's favor , agreeing that the authority to appoint station chiefs overseas should remain with the CIA . Some intelligence experts believe this significantly weakens the DNI 's authority , comparing the DNI to a DCI without an agency . Senator Susan Collins of Maine expressed concerns during hearings over the botched 2009 Christmas terrorist attack that the White House had undermined the power of ODNI by siding with the CIA in turf disputes , specifically citing this disagreement over intelligence community appointees . In a January 2010 statement to lawmakers by Thomas Kean and Lee H. Hamilton who led the 9-11 Commission Report , Kean and Hamilton urged Obama to be clear who was in charge and urged a strong DNI . According to '' The Washington Post '' , a former Clinton administration official suggested scrapping the DNI position if Blair were removed
2009 Christmas terrorist attack
Northwest Airlines Flight 253
Dennis C. Blair