{
  "id": "RL30740",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL30740",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 100237,
      "date": "2001-01-16",
      "retrieved": "2016-05-24T20:29:27.658941",
      "title": "The National Security Agency: Issues for Congress",
      "summary": "The National Security Agency (NSA), one of the largest components of the U.S. Intelligence\nCommunity, has reached a major watershed in its history. Responsible for obtaining intelligence\nfrom international communications, NSA\u2019s efforts are being challenged by the multiplicity\nof new\ntypes of communications links, by the widespread availability of low-cost encryption systems, and\nby changes in the international environment in which dangerous security threats can come from\nsmall, but well organized, terrorist groups as well as hostile nation states.\n \n NSA\u2019s efforts to adjust to the changing geopolitical and technological environment have\nbeen\nstrongly encouraged by Congress and reflect a major shift in congressional oversight of the Agency. \nAlthough Congress has always approved funding for NSA, for decades routine oversight was limited\nto a few Members and staff. In the 1970s, congressional investigations of intelligence agencies\nresulted in greater public attention to NSA and criticism of activities that infringed on the civil\nliberties of U.S. persons. Subsequently, both the Senate and the House of Representatives\nestablished intelligence oversight committees that have closely monitored NSA\u2019s operations. \nThe\nForeign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was enacted in 1978 to regulate collection by foreign\nintelligence agencies of the communications of U.S. persons. The end of the Cold War, the\nexpansion of low-cost encryption and the explosion of communications systems led Congress to take\na more public profile in overseeing the large and secretive Agency.\n \n Reacting in large measure to congressional concerns, NSA launched two separate management\nreviews, one by outside experts, the other by longtime Agency officials. Both made strong criticisms\nof Agency personnel policies, an outmoded organizational structure, and an unwillingness to utilize\ncivilian practices that more effective than those available in-house. The current NSA Director, Lt.\nGeneral Michael V. Hayden, USAF, has used these analyses to launch a series of major initiatives\ndesigned to improve NSA\u2019s operations, to attract and reward more qualified people from\noutside\nindustry, and is developing a major contract for outside support of its non-sensitive Information\nTechnology (IT) functions.\n \n A major renewal effort is underway, but observers believe many challenges lie ahead that will\nrequire congressional oversight. Many of the reforms in personnel policies recommended are\ndifficult to implement in a government organization, especially in an extremely tight market for\ntechnical specialists. The technical complexities of dealing with widespread and sophisticated\nencryption as well as the proliferation of communications devices remain to be resolved. NSA is,\nalong with other intelligence agencies, not well-positioned to analyze developments among the\nassortment of terrorist groups and narcotics smugglers around the world that can seriously affect U.S.\ninterests. NSA has also come under heated criticism in the European Parliament for allegedly\ncollecting, in cooperation with the British, commercial intelligence to benefit U.S. corporations.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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          "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL30740",
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      ],
      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Intelligence and National Security",
    "National Defense"
  ]
}