Gang of Eight
The Gang of Eight in the context of Congress has historically referred to eight members of Congress: four members—the chair and ranking member, of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Select Committees on Intelligence, and the four leaders of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.[1][2]
The Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980 mandated that the CIA “fully and currently [inform]” Congressional oversight committees of their activities including “any significant anticipated intelligence activity.”[1]
In special cases, the Act authorized the President to brief only the majority and minority leaders of each chamber as well as the chairmen and ranking minority members of the Intelligence Committees. It is this group that is informally known as the "Gang of Eight" of Congress.[1]
Members
118th Congress
- U.S. House Committee on Intelligence:
- Michael Turner (R): (Chair)
- Jim Himes (D): (Ranking member)
- United States Senate Committee on Intelligence:
- Mark Warner (D): (Chair)
- Marco Rubio (R): (Ranking member)
- U.S. House:
- Mike Johnson (R): (Speaker of the House)
- Hakeem Jeffries (D): (Minority leader)
- U.S. Senate:
- Chuck Schumer (D): (Majority leader)
- Mitch McConnell (R): (Minority leader)
117th Congress
- U.S. House Committee on Intelligence:
- Adam Schiff (D): (Chair)
- Devin Nunes (R): (Ranking member)
- United States Senate Committee on Intelligence:
- Mark Warner (D): (Chair)
- Marco Rubio (R): (Ranking member)
- U.S. House:
- Nancy Pelosi (D): (Speaker of the House)
- Kevin McCarthy (R): (Minority leader)
- U.S. Senate:
- Chuck Schumer (D): (Majority leader)
- Mitch McConnell (R): (Minority leader)
116th Congress
- U.S. House Committee on Intelligence:
- Adam Schiff (D): (Chair)
- Devin Nunes (R): (Ranking member)
- United States Senate Committee on Intelligence:
- Richard Burr (R): (Chair)
- Mark Warner (D): (Ranking member)
- U.S. House:
- Nancy Pelosi (D): (Speaker of the House)
- Kevin McCarthy (R): (Minority leader)
- U.S. Senate:
- Mitch McConnell (R): (Majority leader)
- Chuck Schumer (D): (Minority leader)
Noteworthy events
Russian space-based weapons intelligence
In February 2024, Gang of Eight member Rep. Michael R. Turner (R) said the U.S. had intelligence about the development of a Russian space nuclear weapons program meant to counter American satellite networks. Turner asked the Biden Administration to declassify information related to this intelligence. The New York Times reported a briefing was held for the Gang of Eight on February 15, 2024.[3]
Senators Marco Rubio (R) and Mark Warner (D), who are both members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released a statement about the intelligence, saying "The Senate Intelligence Committee has the intelligence in question, and has been rigorously tracking this issue from the start. We continue to take this matter seriously and are discussing an appropriate response with the administration. In the meantime, we must be cautious about potentially disclosing sources and methods that may be key to preserving a range of options for U.S. action.”[4]
Chinese surveillance balloon found over U.S.
On February 2, 2023, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) asked for a briefing for the Gang of Eight on a surveillance balloon that appeared over the U.S. A senior defense official with the U.S. government said they were confident the balloon originated from China.[5]
“China’s brazen disregard for U.S. sovereignty is a destabilizing action that must be addressed, and President Biden cannot be silent,” McCarthy said on Twitter. “I am requesting a Gang of Eight briefing.”[6]
Changes to U.S. immigration policy
The Gang of Eight was also used in a different context with reference to immigration reform in 2013 and included eight of the most influential Senators, with four from each party.[7] The Gang of Eight was also credited with writing the first draft of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, or S.744.[8] The 2013 Gang of Eight included the following members:
- Republicans:
- John McCain (AZ)
- Lindsey Graham (SC)
- Marco Rubio (FL)
- Jeff Flake (AZ)
See also
- United States Senate
- United States House of Representatives
- United States Congress
- Leadership positions in state legislatures
External links
- U.S. Senate website
- U.S. House of Representatives website
- ABC News, "Who Are the Gang Of 8 in Senate Immigration Debate?"
- Full text of Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Congressional Research Service, "Gang of Four" accessed May 21, 2013
- ↑ The New York Times, "Report Questions Legality of Briefings on Surveillance" January 19, 2006
- ↑ New York Times, "Russia’s Advances on Space-Based Nuclear Weapon Draw U.S. Concerns," accessed February 20, 2024
- ↑ Marco Rubio, "STATEMENT OF SENATE INTEL VICE CHAIRMAN RUBIO AND CHAIRMAN WARNER," accessed February 20, 2024
- ↑ WFIN, "Chinese spy balloon: House Speaker McCarthy asks for Gang of Eight briefing after flying object found over US," February 3, 2023
- ↑ Twitter, "Kevin McCarthy on Twitter," February 2, 2023
- ↑ Washington Post, "Immigration’s Gang of 8: Who are they?" January 28, 2013
- ↑ The Hill, "Schumer introduces comprehensive immigration reform bill" accessed August 5, 2013
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