Ex-Lobbyists for Spies Are Overseeing Government Spying
Increasingly, the task of overseeing the National Security Agency is going to former lobbyists for NSA contractors and other intelligence community insiders.
Leo Reynolds (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Increasingly, the task of overseeing the National Security Agency is going to former lobbyists for NSA contractors and other intelligence community insiders.
Investigative journalist Lee Fang reports at The Intercept:
A wave of recent appointments has placed intelligence industry insiders into key Congressional roles overseeing intelligence gathering. The influx of insiders is particularly alarming because lawmakers in Washington are set to take up a series of sensitive surveillance and intelligence issues this year, from reform of the Patriot Act to far-reaching “information sharing” legislation.
After the first revelations of domestic surveillance by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, President Obama defended the spying programs by claiming they were “subject to congressional oversight and congressional reauthorization and congressional debate.” But as Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., and other members of Congress have pointed out, there is essentially a “two-tiered” system for oversight, with lawmakers and staff on specialized committees, such as the House and Senate committees on Intelligence and Homeland Security, controlling the flow of information and routinely excluding other Congress members, even those who have asked for specific information relating to pending legislation.
The Intercept reviewed the new gatekeepers in Congress, the leading staffers on the committees overseeing intelligence and surveillance matters, and found a large number of lobbyists and consultants passing through the revolving door between the intelligence community and the watchdogs who purportedly oversee the intelligence community. We reached out to each of them earlier this week and have yet to hear back[.]
Read about some of the regulators and their professional affiliations here.
— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
Wait, before you go…If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
Environment
Firefighters on the frontline of forest fires could find their pay go as low as $15 an hour if Congress doesn't make the 2022 wage bump permanent.
Media
The suggestion of congressional helplessness minimizes the responsibility of lawmakers—ultimately excusing, rather than interrogating, regulatory inertia.
Military
A war of attrition on both sides could last for years—with a potential of nuclear escalation.
Military
A new budget loophole will send Pentagon spending soaring even higher.
Environment
A major piece of agricultural legislation will shape the future of the American food system.
Technology
New technology needs to be assessed by Congress and local civic groups.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.