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For new and updated reports, see the public website of the Congressional Research Service.

Congressional Research Service Reports
on Intelligence and Related Topics

Intelligence Policy

• Intelligence Community Spending Trends, updated September 26, 2024
• The Intelligence Community's Foreign Malign Influence Center (FMIC), CRS In Focus, updated September 3, 2024
• U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership, CRS In Focus, updated July 24, 2024
• Department of Energy's Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (OICI), CRS In Focus, June 7, 2024
• U.S. Intelligence Community Establishment Provisions, CRS In Focus, updated June 5, 2024
• Restrictions on the Use of Journalists for Intelligence Purposes, CRS Insight, May 30, 2024
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA): An Overview, updated April 11, 2024
• Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protections, updated March 29, 2024
• Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and FIU Operational Independence, CRS In Focus, September 8, 2023
• Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of the Intelligence Community: Selected Notification Requirements, updated July 10, 2023
• Statutory Restrictions on the Use of Journalists for Intelligence Purposes, CRS Insight, May 1, 2023
• The Director of National Intelligence (DNI), CRS In Focus, updated April 7, 2023
• Reauthorization of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, March 17, 2023
• Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of the Intelligence Community: Selected Definitions, updated November 29, 2022
• FY2023 Intelligence Authorization Act: Whistleblower Provisions, CRS Insight, October 7, 2022
• Intelligence Coordination on Domestic Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Background and Issues for Congress, September 1, 2022
• FBI v. Fazaga: Supreme Court Unanimously Holds That FISA Does Not Displace the State Secrets Privilege, CRS Legal Sidebar, September 1, 2022
• Controlled Access Programs of the Intelligence Community, CRS In Focus, updated April 20, 2022
• FBI v. Fazaga: Supreme Court Examines Interplay of State Secrets Privilege and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, CRS Legal Sidebar
• Russian Military Intelligence: Background and Issues for Congress, updated November 16, 2021
• The USA PATRIOT Act at 20: Sneak and Peek Searches, CRS Legal Sidebar, October 27, 2021
• Intelligence Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Evaluation Process (IPPBE), CRS In Focus, updated July 9, 2021
• Intelligence Community Presidentially Appointed Senate Confirmed Officials (PAS) During the Administrations of Presidents George W. Bush, Barack H. Obama, and Donald J. Trump: In Brief, May 24, 2021
• Origins and Impact of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Provisions That Expired on March 15, 2020, updated March 31, 2021
• Intelligence Community Diversity and Equal Opportunity, December 7, 2020
• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Design for Great Power Competition, June 4, 2020
• Intelligence Community Support to Pandemic Preparedness and Response, CRS In Focus, May 6, 2020
• Covert Action and Clandestine Activities of the Intelligence Community: Framework for Congressional Oversight In Brief, updated August 9, 2019
• United States Foreign Intelligence Relationships: Background, Policy and Legal Authorities, Risks, Benefits, May 15, 2019
• The U.S. Intelligence Community: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress, CRS Insight, updated February 1, 2019
• Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protections In Brief, December 13, 2018
• Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Background and Selected Options for Further Reform, December 4, 2018
• The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC): An Overview, CRS In Focus, October 18, 2018
• National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), CRS In Focus, July 11, 2018
• CIA Ethics Education: Background and Perspectives, CRS In Focus, June 11, 2018
• HPSCI Memorandum Sparks Debate over FISA Application Requirements, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 14, 2018
• Criminal Prohibitions on Disclosing the Identities of Covert Intelligence Assets, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 6, 2018
• Congress Considers Reform to Queries of FISA Information as Reauthorization Deadline Approaches, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 8, 2018
• Summary of the Substantive Provisions of S. 2010, the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017, and H.R. 3989, the USA Liberty Act of 2017, CRS memorandum, November 16, 2017
• Intelligence Community Programs, Management, and Enduring Issues, November 8, 2016
• Surveillance of Foreigners Outside the United States Under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), April 13, 2016
• The U.S. Intelligence Community: Selected Cross-Cutting Issues, April 12, 2016
• Intelligence Authorization Legislation for FY2014 and FY2015: Provisions, Status, Intelligence Community Framework, January 12, 2016
• Perspectives on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, January 8, 2016
• Paris Attacks and "Going Dark": Intelligence-Related Issues to Consider, CRS Insight, November 19, 2015
• Senate Passes Cybersecurity Information Sharing Bill -- What's Next?, CRS Legal Sidebar, October 28, 2015
• What Does the Latest Court Ruling on NSA Telephone Metadata Program Mean?, CRS Legal Sidebar, September 3, 2015
• The Intelligence Community and Its Use of Contractors: Congressional Oversight Issues, August 18, 2015
• National Security Letters in Foreign Intelligence Investigations: A Glimpse at the Legal Background, July 31, 2015
• National Security Letters in Foreign Intelligence Investigations: Legal Background, July 30
• Intelligence Authorization Legislation for FY2016: Selected Provisions, CRS Insights, June 15, 2015
• USA FREEDOM Act Reinstates Expired USA PATRIOT Act Provisions but Limits Bulk Collection, CRS Legal Sidebar, June 4, 2015
• Overview of Constitutional Challenges to NSA Collection Activities , May 21, 2015
• Government Collection of Private Information: Background and Issues Related to the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization in Brief, May 19, 2015
• Sunset of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, memorandum for the House Judiciary Committee, May 19, 2015
• The Potential Impact of the Second Circuit's Ruling Against Bulk Collection on USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization, CRS Legal Sidebar, May 8, 2015
• Cybersecurity and Information Sharing: Legal Challenges and Solutions, March 16, 2015
• National Security Letters: Proposals in the 113th Congress, January 22, 2015
• The SSCI Study of the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program: Issues to Consider, CRS Insights, December 16, 2014
• Selected CRS Materials on Detention and Interrogation of Terrorist Suspects and Enemy Belligerents, CRS Legal Sidebar, December 16, 2014
• Intelligence Whistleblower Protections: In Brief, October 23, 2014
• Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts: Procedural and Operational Changes, August 26, 2014
• Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC): Selection of Judges, May 5, 2014
• Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts: A Brief Overview, March 31, 2014
• Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts: Introducing a Public Advocate, March 21, 2014
• Who's Overseeing Whom? The CIA, SSCI, and the Speech or Debate Clause, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 13, 2014
• Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts: Disclosure of FISA Opinions, February 24, 2014
• Intelligence Spending and Appropriations: Issues for Congress, September 18, 2013
• NSA Surveillance Leaks: Background and Issues for Congress, September 4, 2013
• Foreign Surveillance and the Future of Standing to Sue Post-Clapper, July 10, 2013
• Intelligence Issues for Congress, April 23, 2013
• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Acquisition: Issues for Congress, April 16, 2013
• "Gang of Four" Congressional Intelligence Notifications, April 16, 2013
• Intelligence Identities Protection Act, April 10, 2013
• Sensitive Covert Action Notifications: Oversight Options for Congress, April 10, 2013
• Covert Action: Legislative Background and Possible Policy Questions, April 10, 2013
• Reauthorization of the FISA Amendments Act, April 8, 2013
• Intelligence Authorization Legislation: Status and Challenges, March 25, 2013
• Privacy: An Abbreviated Outline of Federal Statutes Governing Wiretapping and Electronic Eavesdropping, October 9, 2012
• Privacy: An Overview of Federal Statutes Governing Wiretapping and Electronic Eavesdropping, October 9, 2012
• Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Current Structure and Alternatives, May 14, 2012
• Terrorism Information Sharing and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Report Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress, December 28, 2011
• The National Intelligence Council: Issues and Options for Congress, December 27, 2011
• The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) -- Responsibilities and Potential Congressional Concerns, December 19, 2011
• Director of National Intelligence Statutory Authorities: Status and Proposals, December 16, 2011
• Governmental Tracking of Cell Phones and Vehicles: The Confluence of Privacy, Technology, and Law, December 1, 2011
• National Security Letters: Proposals in the 112th Congress, June 30, 2011
• Government Collection of Private Information: Background and Issues Related to the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization, June 16, 2011
• Intelligence Information: Need-to-Know vs. Need-to-Share, June 6, 2011
• Satellite Surveillance: Domestic Issues, January 13, 2011
• Intelligence Estimates: How Useful to Congress?, January 6, 2011
• National Security Letters: Proposed Amendments in the 111th Congress, December 27, 2010
• Securing America's Borders: The Role of the Intelligence Community, December 7, 2010
• Legal Standard for Disclosure of Cell-Site Information (CSI) and Geolocation, memorandum for Sen. Wyden, June 29, 2010
• Intelligence Reform After Five Years: The Role of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), June 22, 2010
• The Department of Homeland Security Intelligence Enterprise: Operational Overview and Oversight Challenges for Congress, March 19, 2010
• Congress as a Consumer of Intelligence Information, January 28, 2010
• Intelligence Reform at the Department of Energy: Policy Issues and Organizational Alternatives, September 25, 2009
• Interrogation of Detainees: Requirements of the Detainee Treatment Act, updated August 26, 2009
• Polygraph Use by the Department of Energy: Issues for Congress, updated February 9, 2009
• U.N. Convention Against Torture (CAT): Overview and Application to Interrogation Techniques, updated January 26, 2009
• The War Crimes Act: Current Issues, updated January 22, 2009
• The U.N. Convention Against Torture: Overview of U.S. Implementation Policy Concerning the Removal of Aliens, updated January 21, 2009
• Homeland Security Intelligence: Perceptions, Statutory Definitions, and Approaches, updated January 14, 2009
• Retroactive Immunity Provided by the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, July 25, 2008
• The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: A Sketch of Selected Issues, July 7, 2008
• The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: A Brief Overview of Selected Issues, updated July 7, 2008
• The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Comparison of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773 and the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3773, June 12, 2008
• P.L. 110-55, the Protect America Act of 2007: Modifications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, updated February 14, 2008
• The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Comparison of House-Passed H.R. 3773, S. 2248 as Reported By the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and S. 2248 as Reported Out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, updated February 8, 2008
• Fusion Centers: Issues and Options for Congress, updated January 18, 2008
• Open Source Intelligence (OSINT): Issues for Congress, December 5, 2007
• A Summary of Fusion Centers: Core Issues and Options for Congress, September 19, 2007
• Government Access to Phone Calling Activity and Related Records: Legal Authorities, updated August 20, 2007
• Intelligence and Information-Sharing Elements of S. 4 and H.R. 1, June 26, 2007
• Digital Surveillance: The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, updated June 8, 2007
• The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: An Overview of the Statutory Framework and U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review Decisions, updated February 15, 2007
• Intelligence Spending: Public Disclosure Issues, updated February 15, 2007
• Sharing Law Enforcement and Intelligence Information: The Congressional Role, February 13, 2007
• The U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review: An Overview, January 24, 2007
• Undisclosed U.S. Detention Sites Overseas: Background and Legal Issues, updated January 23, 2007
• Treatment of "Battlefield Detainees" in the War on Terrorism, updated January 23, 2007
• National Security Surveillance Act of 2006: S. 3886, Title II (S. 2453 as Reported Out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, updated January 18, 2007
• Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act, as Passed by the House of Representatives, updated January 18, 2007
• Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004: "Lone Wolf" Amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, updated December 19, 2006
• Special Operations Forces (SOF) and CIA Paramilitary Operations: Issues for Congress, updated December 6, 2006
• Terrorist Surveillance Act of 2006: S. 3931 and Title II of S. 3929, the Terrorist Tracking, Identification, and Prosecution Act of 2006, September 25, 2006
• Anti-Terrorism Authority Under the Laws of the United Kingdom and the United States, September 7, 2006
• Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction: Establishment and Composition, updated August 23, 2006
• Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, 1994-2006, July 19, 2006
• Intelligence Reform at the Department of Energy: Policy Issues and Organizational Alternatives, updated July 19, 2006
• Renditions: Constraints Imposed by Laws on Torture, updated April 5, 2006
• Administrative Subpoenas in Criminal Investigations: A Brief Legal Analysis, March 17, 2006
• Administrative Subpoenas in Criminal Investigations: A Sketch, March 17, 2006
• Probable Cause, Reasonable Suspicion, and Reasonableness Standards in the Context of the Fourth Amendment and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, January 30, 2006
• Statutory Procedures Under Which Congress Is To Be Informed of U.S. Intelligence Activities, Including Covert Actions, January 18, 2006
• Presidential Authority to Conduct Warrantless Electronic Surveillance to Gather Foreign Intelligence Information, January 5, 2006
• Congress as a Consumer of Intelligence Information, December 14, 2005
• U.S. Intelligence and Policymaking: The Iraq Experience, updated December 2, 2005
• Intelligence Reform Implementation at the Federal Bureau of Investigation: Issues and Options for Congress, August 16, 2005
• Security and Freedom Ensured Act (SAFE Act)(H.R. 1526) and Security and Freedom Enhancement Act (SAFE Act)(S. 737): Section By Section Analysis, May 9, 2005
• The SAFE Acts of 2005: H.R. 1526 and S. 737 -- A Sketch, May 9, 2005
• House Select Committee on Intelligence: Leadership and Assignment Limitations, April 25, 2005
• Director of National Intelligence: Statutory Authorities, April 11, 2005
• The National Counterterrorism Center: Implementation Challenges and Issues for Congress, updated March 24, 2005
• Counterintelligence Reform at the Department of Energy: Policy Issues and Organizational Alternatives, updated March 8, 2005
• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Programs: Issues for Congress, updated February 22, 2005
• The Director of National Intelligence and Intelligence Analysis, updated February 11, 2005
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Selected Legislation from the 108th Congress, updated January 11, 2005
• Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004: National Standards for Drivers' Licenses, Social Security Cards, and Birth Certificates, January 6, 2005
• Intelligence Community Reorganization: Potential Effects on DOD Intelligence Agencies, updated December 21, 2004
• Consolidating Intelligence Appropriation and Authorization in a Single Committee: 9/11 Commission Recommendation and Alternatives, October 29, 2004
• H.R. 10 (9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act) and S. 2845 (National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004): A Comparative Analysis, updated October 21, 2004
• S.Res. 445: Senate Committee Reorganization for Homeland Security and Intelligence Matters, October 15, 2004
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: Term Limits and Assignment Limitations, updated October 14, 2004
• 9/11 Commission Recommendations: Intelligence Budget, September 27, 2004
• Proposals for Intelligence Reorganization, 1949-2004, updated September 24, 2004
• The U.S. Intelligence Budget: A Basic Overview, September 24, 2004
• Lawfulness of Interrogation Techniques under the Geneva Conventions, September 8, 2004
• Requirements for Linguists in Government Agencies, September 2, 2004
• 9/11 Commission Recommendations: Joint Committee on Atomic Energy -- A Model for Congressional Oversight?, August 20, 2004
• Side-by-Side Comparison of Intelligence Community Reforms Proposed by 9/11 Commission, the Bush Administration, Senators Feinstein, Graham and Daschle, and Representatives Harman and Goss; and Current Statute, August 11, 2004 (@ State Dept FPC site)
• The Position of Director of National Intelligence: Issues for Congress, udpated August 12, 2004
• FBI Intelligence Reform Since September 11, 2001: Issues and Options for Congress, updated August 4, 2004
• U.S. Treatment of Prisoners in Iraq: Selected Legal Issues, May 24, 2004
• Analysis of S. 1709: the Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2003 (SAFE Act), February 19, 2004
• The FBI: Past, Present, and Future, October 2, 2003
• Domestic Intelligence in the United Kingdom: Applicability of the MI-5 Model to the United States, May 19, 2003
• Assassination Ban and E.O. 12333: A Brief Summary, updated January 4, 2002
• Proposed Change to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) under S. 113, May 19, 2003
• The Intelligence Community and 9/11: Congressional Hearings and the Status of the Investigation, updated January 16, 2003
• Privacy: Total Information Awareness Programs and Related Information Access, Collection, and Protection Laws, updated March 21, 2003
• Imagery Intelligence: Issues for Congress, April 12, 2002
• The National Security Agency: Issues for Congress, January 16, 2001
• Intelligence and Law Enforcement: Countering Transnational Threats to the U.S., December 3, 2001
• Jonathan Pollard: Background and Considerations for Presidential Clemency, updated January 31, 2001
• Cyberwarfare, June 19, 2001 (PDF)
• Countries of the World and International Organizations: Sources of Information, updated May 2, 2001
• U.S. Army School of the Americas: Background and Congressional Concerns, April 16, 2001
• Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR): The U-2 Aircraft and Global Hawk UAV Programs, December 1, 2000
• Intelligence Technology in the Post-Cold War Era: The Role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), July 26, 1993
• Inspector General in the CIA Compared to Other Statutory Inspectors General, December 21, 1989
• Legislative History of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, August 16, 1978
• To Create a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: A Legislative History of Senate Resolution 400, August 12, 1976

USA PATRIOT Act

• USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005: A Legal Analysis, updated December 21, 2006
• USA PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments Act of 2006 (S. 2271), February 21, 2006
• USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 3199): A Legal Analysis of the Conference Bill, January 17, 2006
• USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 3199): A Side-by-Side Comparison of Existing Law, H.R. 3199 (Conference), and H.R. 3199 (Senate Passed), December 28, 2005
• USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 3199): A Brief Look, December 9, 2005
• USA PATRIOT Act: Background and Comparison of House- and Senate-approved Reauthorization and Related Legislative Action, August 9, 2005
• USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Proposals and Related Matters in Brief, updated July 15, 2005
• Libraries and the USA PATRIOT Act, updated July 6, 2005
• USA Patriot Act Sunset: Provisions That Expire on December 31, 2005, updated June 29, 2005
• USA PATRIOT Act Sunset: A Sketch, updated June 29, 2005
• Analysis of S. 1709: the Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2003 (SAFE Act), to amend the Patriot Act, February 19, 2004
• The USA PATRIOT Act: A Sketch, April 18, 2002
• The USA PATRIOT Act: A Legal Analysis, April 15, 2002
• Legislative History of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, August 16, 1978