The EO was designed to strengthen and expand Executive Order 11905, which was originally signed by Gerald R. Ford in 1976.

[1][2] Upon taking office in 1977, President Jimmy Carter's administration with input from Congress immediately began to revise EO 11905 that was signed late in the previous year.

The EO set-up the duties and requirements of two National Security Council cabinet-level committees that had been previously created by Carter in 1977.

The Policy Review committee which was chaired by the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and also included the Vice President, National Security Advisor, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would also prioritize intelligence community budget allocations.

The EO also imposed a lengthy list of restrictions on the U.S. Intelligence Community to ensure "full compliance with the laws of the United States."