The National Security Institute Publishes Law & Policy Paper on Creating a Standalone OSINT Agency

 

January 31, 2025

Kelly Crowley

National Security Institute

[email protected]

 

Arlington, VA – Today, the National Security Institute (NSI) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School published a new law and policy paper, A Standalone OSINT Agency for Stronger National Security, which argues for the creation of an independent Open Source Information Agency (OSIA) to strengthen U.S. national security capabilities.

The paper highlights:

• Critical Need: Open source intelligence (OSINT) has become vital to national security, providing unique insights from publicly available information that complements classified intelligence.
• Current Limitations: While the Intelligence Community recognizes OSINT’s importance, its integration within classified environments limits its full potential for rapid sharing and collaboration.
• Proposed Solution: Creation of an independent Executive Branch Open Source Information Agency outside the Intelligence Community, with an initial budget of $100 million and 100 civilian personnel.
• Key Benefits: The standalone agency would maximize OSINT’s utility across diplomatic, intelligence, military, and economic sectors while ensuring maximum information effectiveness through speed, scale, and shareability.

This paper builds on NSI’s commitment to advancing innovative solutions for emerging national security challenges. As the volume and importance of open source information continue to grow, particularly in an era of great power competition, the need for a dedicated OSINT agency becomes increasingly critical.

Click here to read A Standalone OSINT Agency for Stronger National Security.

 

“This paper presents a bold yet practical solution to harness the full potential of open-source intelligence,” said David Gauthier, NSI Visiting Fellow, Chief Strategy Officer for GXO, Inc., and former Director of Commercial Operations for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. “Creating a standalone OSINT agency would revolutionize how we collect, analyze, and share critical information, ultimately strengthening our national security posture.”

“Collecting and effectively exploiting OSINT is a critically important mission for the U.S. national security community, and teeing up the idea the creation of an independent agency focused on this mission, will substantially help push this mission forward,” said Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute. “This thoughtful analysis provides policymakers with a clear roadmap to an innovative approach for establishing an agency that could transform how we leverage open-source information for national security purposes.”

 

Learn more here about the author, David Gauthier.

 

 

About the National Security Institute: 

The National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development. The Institute incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing our intelligence, law enforcement, border security, and cybersecurity communities.

About the Antonin Scalia Law School:

The Antonin Scalia Law School, founded in 1972, merged with George Mason Law School in 1979 and was named after the late Supreme Court Justice in 2016. Located in Arlington, Va., it offers JD, LLM, and JM degrees and is home to nationally acclaimed centers, including the National Security Institute.

About George Mason University:

George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolling over 40,000 students from 130 countries. Recognized for innovation, diversity, and commitment to accessibility, Mason launched a one-billion-dollar campaign in 2023 to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship.