CIA Employees: Moonlighting Controls Already in Place

Congress is after CIA employees again.  First, Pelosi falsely denied knowing about the harsh interrogation procedures. Then congressional intelligence committee members were upset that they were not told about a possible covert program to kill Al-Qaeda terrorists. Now, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) is targeting the CIA employee moonlighting program.  FrumForum spoke with many former high-ranking officials all of whom dismissed Rep. Eshoo’s claims that the CIA is not adequately monitoring those employees who take second jobs outside the agency.

Eshoo was quoted in Politico as being skeptical about the CIA’s moonlighting program, stating “My sense is that it is a rubber stamp deal.  No one’s really looking at it or keeping a close eye on it.”  A former high-ranking CIA official disagreed, stating that “Eshoo does not have to suspect.  Being a part of the intelligence committee means that she has the ability to call people down and ask them.  There must be an atmosphere of trust.”

All those who spoke with FrumForum stressed that there is a rigorous policy in place for determining the authorization for second jobs.  An employee must submit an “Outside Activity Request” form not only for outside jobs, but also if they choose to volunteer for an organization.  Everyone interviewed stated that the number of moonlighters is very small.  Furthermore, all CIA employees must take a polygraph test where they are asked if they have an outside job.

The former officials thought Eshoo’s allegations were not legitimate and that the concern over moonlighting was not much of an issue.  As a U.S. government official told FrumForum, “There’s a lot less to this than meets the eye.  In fact, it’s largely a red herring.  One thing that’s looked at, beyond the obvious questions of legality and security, is even the potential for an appearance of conflict of interest.  That alone is enough to kill a request.”

All the CIA officials stressed that they worked at the Agency, not for the money, but for duty, honor and protecting Americans.  Yet, as a former operative frustratingly noted, “I want to pay my bills, raise a family, and I can’t do it on just a CIA salary.”

Maybe instead, Congresswoman Eshoo should look into giving CIA employees the same benefits as those that work for Federal law enforcement agencies.  A former FBI agent noted that the FBI does not pay for overtime and forbids agents from working other jobs, the rationale being that “an agent is a full time job and no one should work elsewhere as they are on call 24-7.”  Instead, they get a 25% stipend added on to their salary for compensation, and if an agent lives in a big city they get a locality pay which is also added on to their salary.  In addition, all federal law enforcement officers can retire after 20 years.

Eshoo would also require the Director of National Intelligence to disclose all moonlighting to congressional intelligence committees each year. Does that mean that Congress will decide who moonlights and where?  CIA should not be the initials for “Congressional Intelligence Agency.”

A former official commented that “it’s sometimes very depressing and frustrating because people do not have a perspective.  Does the requirement include all agencies including DOD?”  General Hayden concurs and noted that “as a military officer I was allowed to do some outside work.  I moonlighted by teaching a history class.” Another former official sarcastically stated “trying to get people in Washington to understand the requirements is itself a full-time career, with not a moment left for moonlighting.”