USA PATRIOT Act - OMB Watch

USA PATRIOT Act: News Background Analysis Gov Docs Links

Subtopics

Critical Infrastructure Information

Critical Energy Infrastructure Information

Sensitive But Unclassified

USA PATRIOT Act

Chemical Security

Take action to Restore Our Civil Liberties!

In response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act or Patriot Act), which significantly increased the surveillance, and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies.

News

Wiretapping Made Simple 09/11/2007
On Aug. 6, President Bush signed the Protect America Act of 2007 (PAA), granting the government the authority to wiretap anyone, including U.S. citizens, without any court approval as long as the "target" of the surveillance is located outside the U.S. The legislation will expire in six months, but members of Congress and concerned public interest groups are not waiting for the sunsets. They are seeking immediate revisions to address the invasion of privacy and erosion of civil liberties contained in the act. Read More

Congress Urged to Reform USA PATRIOT Act 04/17/2007
Congress continues to exercise oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) misuse of USA PATRIOT Act powers. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights held a hearing on the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General report on the misreporting and abuse of National Security Letter (NSL) powers. A common theme from the four witnesses at the hearing was the need for Congress to reform the USA PATRIOT Act and curtail the FBI's NSL powers. Read More

Patriot Act Deal Compromises Civil Liberties 02/22/2006
After two short-term extensions of the USA PATRIOT Act, Congress and the White House appear to have reached a deal on the controversial legislation. Unfortunately, the deal fails to make real progress toward protecting civil liberties. Read More

Patriot Act Negotiations Come to a Head 12/13/2005
With the deadline fast approaching for renewal of USA PATRIOT Act powers, lawmakers appeared unable to reach an agreement. Senate Democrats are proposing to give Congress another 90 days to negotiate before controversial provisions expire this year, while Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) is calling for renewal before Congress leaves this year. Read More

Open Government at Stake in Patriot Act Negotiations 11/15/2005
Lawmakers in the House and Senate began negotiations last week on renewing 16 provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act, set to expire this year. Several important differences exist between the House and Senate bills that affect the government's transparency in its exercise of powers to clandestinely search, seize, and collect information. How these differences are resolved will have broad implications for civil liberties and government surveillance powers. Read More

Gag Orders Extended; Library Consortium Must Remain Silent 10/04/2005
The U.S. Court of Appeals extended a gag order on a library consortium that received a National Security Letter (NSL) while it considers a lower court ruling that the organization has a First Amendment right to fully participate in the discussion surrounding the USA PATRIOT Act. The gag order is preventing the NSL recipient, an unidentified member of the American Library Association, from discussing its experience openly and participating in the broader debate about the controversial legislation. Read More

Gag Orders Lifted; FBI Can No Longer Silence Discussion of PATRIOT Act, Judge Says 09/19/2005
In a victory for First Amendment advocates, a federal judge lifted a gag order on a Connecticut library from whom the FBI demanded patrons' records, allowing them to discuss openly their experience and participate in the broader debate about the PATRIOT Act. The judge issued a preliminary injunction against the government, barring it from enforcing gag orders on recipients of certain orders called National Security Letters (NSL), created under the PATRIOT Act. Read More

Court Strikes Down Part of the Patriot Act 10/04/2004
Federal District Judge Victor Marrero ruled Sept. 29 that surveillance powers under the USA PATRIOT Act were unconstitutional, marking a significant victory for civil liberties groups. Read More

Kyl Proposes Expanding the Patriot Act 10/04/2004
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) introduced an amendment to the Senate intelligence reform bill that would heighten government secrecy and threaten civil liberties. The amendment seeks to build upon the secret surveillance powers granted to the government under the Patriot Act. Read More

City Cites Terrorism in Secret Meeting on Gangs 09/07/2004
The City Council of Staunton, Va., questionably used a terrorism provision to hold a secret meeting on gang activities. Using homeland security policies to hide non-terrorism information appears to be an increasing problem. Read More

| < 1 >

| 2

| 3

| Next >>