On June 5, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo) introduced the bipartisan NSA Internal Watchdog Act, a measure aimed at creating structural reforms for more oversight and accountability at the troubled agency. Notably, the bill – which was introduced on the one-year anniversary of NSA contractor Edward Snowden’s disclosures about illegal surveillance – would facilitate greater protections for NSA whistleblowers. McCaskill was joined by Sens. Dan Coats (R-In), Susan Collins (R-Me), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md) and Jon Tester (D-Mt). In April, a bipartisan trio in the House, led by Congressman Jim Cooper (D-Tn), introduced companion legislation (H.R. 4533).

Yesterday, GAP and a bipartisan team of Make It Safe Coalition members – including the Project On Government Oversight, Liberty Coalition, Public Citizen, and Taxpayers Protection Alliance – sent a letter to McCaskill expressing appreciation for the Act:

Whistleblowers supported by our coalition consistently have raised concerns about the cost and effectiveness of NSA programs, as well as the expansive domestic surveillance activities which have threatened our constitutional rights. Lack of independent oversight greatly contributed to these and other abuses at the NSA. Your proposed reforms would help to put into place a watchdog with more independence and authority, and would facilitate greater protections for NSA whistleblowers

Specifically, the NSA Internal Watchdog Act proposes to:

  • Upgrade the NSA Inspector General to a presidentially-appointed Office of Inspector General, confirmed by the Senate.
  • Mandate an annual review of the whistleblower program.
  • Require disclosure to Congress if the Department of Defense obstructs an OIG investigation.
  • Institutionalize domestic surveillance audits to assess their effectiveness, impact on civil liberties; compliance with legal restrictions; and communications with the FISA court.

The letter qualified that, while this Act lays the foundation for structural checks and balances at the NSA, effective statutory protections must be provided to all Intelligence Community whistleblowers.

The full letter can be viewed here.

 

Shanna Devine is Legislative Campaign Coordinator & Investigator for the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.