Foreign Intelligence Physical Searches
Attorney General Authorized to Approve Foreign Intelligence Physical Searches
What it does
The order directs the Attorney General to authorize foreign-intelligence physical searches or seek court orders, with specified national-security officials providing required certifications.
Real-world impact
- Allows year-long physical foreign-intelligence searches without court orders.
- Gives the Attorney General power to apply for court-ordered searches.
- Names senior security leaders who must be Senate-confirmed to certify searches.
Topics
Summary
This order authorizes how the federal government can conduct physical searches to gather foreign intelligence. It lets the Attorney General approve searches without a court order for up to one year if required certifications are made, or seek court orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
The order names senior national-security officials — the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and their deputies — who may make the required certifications only if they were appointed by the President with Senate confirmation.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”