Congress
Just Security’s expert authors offer analysis of U.S. Congress’ role in national security, foreign affairs, the rule of law, and rights. Coverage includes analysis and informational resources related to the legislative process, oversight and investigations of the executive branch, and major debates on the separation of powers and Congress’ constitutional role.
2,544 Articles
An End to Dragnet Surveillance?
The New York Times report that President Obama will call for an end to the bulk collection of American’s telephone metadata is yet further vindication for Edward Snowden in particular,…
President Obama Will Seek to Curb (End?) Section 215 Bulk Collection
In a story being reported this evening by Charlie Savage of The New York Times, it appears that President Obama is preparing to announce a legislative proposal that will seek…
DiFi vs CIA
More than a few folks have commented on the irony of Sen. Dianne Feinstein—perhaps the most vigorous defender of NSA’s controversial surveillance programs—flipping into…
How President Obama can fulfill his promise to end bulk collection of telephone metadata, while preserving intelligence capabilities
On January 17, President Obama promised to end the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of metadata on Americans’ phone calls under “section 215” (which is really…
Caroline Krass Confirmed as CIA General Counsel
I am delighted to report that the Senate just confirmed my friend and former colleague Caroline Krass to be General Counsel at the CIA, by a vote of 95-4. (“No” votes…
Rep. Schiff Op-Ed in NYT: moving drone program from CIA to JSOC would result in more transparency — But is he right?
Today, Representative Adam Schiff has an opinion piece in the New York Times where he advocates that Congress should allow the President to move the drone program from the CIA…
Constitutional Conflict & Congressional Oversight
This week has seen a long-smoldering Senate investigation of CIA torture allegations burst into a public conflagration between the CIA and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.…
Floor Statement from Senator Feinstein on CIA-SSCI Controversy
This morning, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), sharply criticized the CIA in a speech on the floor of the Senate about the…
A New Turn in the Story on CIA Monitoring of Senate Intelligence Committee Computers
In the late evening of March 4, 2014, McClatchy reported that the CIA’s Inspector General had asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into CIA monitoring…
CIA Reportedly Spied on Senate Intelligence Committee Which May be a Federal Crime
McClatchy News is reporting that the CIA may have monitored computers that the agency provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee. The computers were used by Senate aides to…
The United States Cannot be at War With an Ideology
Testifying to the House Armed Services Committee this morning on the state of the Special Operations Command, Admiral William McRaven said that now that core al Qaeda has been…
What to Listen for in Key Defense Hearings this Week
Congressional hearings this week will set the stage for the next and final two years of President Obama’s national defense policy. They should also begin to answer some big questions…