Senate to question James Clapper on how he’d fix national intelligence as its director

Intelligence director nominee faces a grilling

WASHINGTON — Tough questions and blunt answers are likely when retired Air Force Gen. James T. Clapper goes before the Senate Intelligence Committee, seeking confirmation as the next director of national intelligence.

Clapper is expected to explain how he would streamline the massive flow of information from the intelligence community’s 16 agencies. His written responses to questions are to be posted to the committee’s website at the start of the hearing Tuesday.

Congress created the DNI post in 2004 because of a perceived lack of coordination that preceded the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But critics say the intelligence chief’s role is ill-defined, without sufficient legal or funding authority.