The White House released an order Thursday meant to strengthen the authority of the nation’s spy chief to hire and fire intelligence agency heads and spend money on major programs, among other responsibilities.

Members of the House and Senate Intelligence panels were receiving briefings on the executive order Thursday. Leaders of the House committee criticized the Bush administration for what they considered poor consultation with Congress on a significant restructuring of intelligence agency responsibilities.

The document, Executive Order 12333, is a revision of an order first issued under President Ronald Reagan that implemented bans on assassination and human experimentation, bans which would remain in effect.

Congress created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in a 2004 law to oversee the 16 intelligence agencies, but many lawmakers and experts since have questioned whether the office has the authority to serve effectively as the leader of the spy community.

Administration officials said the revised order would improve intelligence agency efficiency, coordination and collaboration.

The order would give the DNI a new role in recommending the hiring and firing of intelligence agency heads that serve under other departments, a power the 2004 law did not grant the office. Under the order, for instance, the DNI and secretary of Defense would consult on whether to fire the director of the National Security Agency, a component of the Defense Department. If they do not agree on whether to fire the official, the DNI and Defense secretary could make separate recommendations to the president.

The leaders of the House Intelligence panel reacted initially not to the substance of the order, but how it was presented to them. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, the committee’s top Republican, gave a statement, then left, followed by several other GOP members, according to congressional officials. The officials said that three Republicans ultimately decided to attend the briefing.

Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, also said he was “deeply disappointed” about the lack of congressional and public input.