Meaning: The quote you've provided refers to a recommendation made by the 9/11 Commission regarding the role and authority of the National Intelligence Director. The 9/11 Commission was a bipartisan group established by the U.S. Congress and President George W. Bush in 2002 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States and to make recommendations to prevent future attacks.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, there was widespread recognition of the failures and shortcomings within the U.S. intelligence community that had contributed to the nation's vulnerability. One of the key findings of the 9/11 Commission was that the U.S. government's approach to intelligence and national security needed significant reform to ensure better coordination, communication, and effectiveness.

The specific recommendation cited in the quote emphasizes the need for the National Intelligence Director to have comprehensive control over the budgetary aspects of the intelligence community. According to the Commission's recommendation, the National Intelligence Director should not only be responsible for developing the budget but also for its implementation and oversight. This comprehensive control over the budget is seen as essential to ensuring that the National Intelligence Director has the necessary authority and influence to make critical decisions and implement necessary reforms within the intelligence community.

Leonard Boswell, the politician credited with the quote, was a U.S. Congressman from Iowa who served on the House Intelligence Committee. His support for the Commission's recommendation reflects the broader consensus among policymakers and experts at the time regarding the need to strengthen the leadership and authority of the National Intelligence Director.

The recommendation for the National Intelligence Director to have full control of the budget aligns with the broader goals of intelligence reform in the wake of 9/11. It is aimed at addressing the fragmentation and lack of coordination that had been identified as significant weaknesses in the U.S. intelligence apparatus. By consolidating budgetary control under the National Intelligence Director, the Commission sought to empower this key position with the necessary resources and authority to drive strategic priorities, allocate resources effectively, and foster greater unity and coherence across the various intelligence agencies.

The significance of this recommendation lies in its recognition of the pivotal role that budgetary control plays in shaping the direction and effectiveness of any organization, including the intelligence community. By vesting the National Intelligence Director with full control over the budget, the Commission sought to elevate the position's influence and ability to drive meaningful change and improvements within the intelligence community.

Furthermore, the recommendation reflects a broader shift towards a more centralized and coordinated approach to intelligence leadership and governance. By concentrating budgetary authority within the National Intelligence Director's purview, the aim was to streamline decision-making, eliminate redundancies, and prioritize resource allocation based on strategic imperatives and national security priorities.

In conclusion, the quote you've provided encapsulates a key recommendation from the 9/11 Commission aimed at bolstering the authority and influence of the National Intelligence Director by granting them comprehensive control over the intelligence community's budget. This recommendation was a response to the identified need for significant reforms within the U.S. intelligence apparatus in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, signaling a broader shift towards a more centralized and coordinated approach to intelligence leadership and governance.