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Budget ax falls on armed pilot programupdated: Mon Feb 13 2012 21:30:00

President Barack Obama's budget ax is falling hard on a program that allows pilots to carry handguns in the cockpit as a last line of defense against terrorists.

Report on Federal Air Marshal Service paints an unflattering pictureupdated: Fri Feb 03 2012 08:41:00

A long-awaited report on alleged misconduct within the Federal Air Marshal Service concludes that while supervisors do not engage in "widespread" discrimination and retaliation against rank-and-file air marshals, the agency is far from trouble-free.

Report: Air Marshal Service discrimination not widespreadupdated: Thu Feb 02 2012 23:01:00

A long-awaited federal investigation looking into allegations of a hostile work environment within the Federal Air Marshal Service concludes there is no "widespread discrimination and retaliation" within the agency, according to a report by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General obtained by CNN.

E-mail: Air marshals perceive discrimination, study will showupdated: Tue Jan 31 2012 22:52:00

A 21-month investigation into allegations that the Federal Air Marshal Service has a hostile work environment -- rife with discrimination and retaliation -- has concluded that no "widespread" problem exists, according to an internal government e-mail obtained by CNN.

We're losing control of our digital privacyupdated: Thu Jan 26 2012 14:26:00

Last week, millions of Americans stood up against the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Senate's related anti-piracy bill. Given the public outcry, it is not surprising that all four Republican presidential candidates have come out against them.

Government finally doles out $106 million settlement to air marshalsupdated: Fri Jun 17 2011 17:12:00

The game of identifying federal air marshals on airplanes may just have gotten a little easier. Look for the smiling person with a fatter wallet or purse.

Obama approves extension of expiring Patriot Act provisionsupdated: Fri May 27 2011 10:55:00

President Barack Obama signed legislation Thursday evening extending several key provisions of the Patriot Act shortly before they were set to expire at midnight.

Paul sounds off on his own leadershipupdated: Thu May 26 2011 20:33:00

Rand Paul says it's the leadership of his own party that's holding up the Patriot Act.

Congress approves extension of expiring Patriot Act provisionsupdated: Thu May 26 2011 20:33:00

The U.S. House followed the Senate on Thursday in voting to extend three key provisions of the Patriot Act scheduled to expire at midnight, sending the measure to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.

Air marshals surveyed about misconduct, retaliation within agencyupdated: Wed Mar 02 2011 06:32:00

Thousands of federal air marshals are being surveyed to see whether some employees' allegations of discrimination, retaliation and misconduct are isolated or widespread.

Obama's proposed Homeland Security budget sees slight increaseupdated: Tue Feb 15 2011 09:29:00

President Barack Obama's budget cutters left the Department of Homeland Security relatively unscathed Monday, less than a week after the department chief said the country's terror threat is at its "most heightened state" since the September 11 attacks.

Budget plan dubbed 'debt on arrival'updated: Tue Feb 15 2011 09:29:00

Critics take on Obama's 2012 budget. CNN's Jim Acosta reports.

House defeats bill extending Patriot Act provisions until Decemberupdated: Tue Feb 08 2011 21:17:00

A bill to extend three provisions of the Patriot Act and Intelligence Reform bill that are due to expire next month failed to win approval Tuesday from the U.S. House of Representatives.

Two U.S. air marshals flee Brazil after being charged with assaultupdated: Fri Oct 22 2010 06:30:00

Two U.S. air marshals who arrested the wife of a Brazilian judge on a flight to Rio de Janeiro -- and were themselves arrested and had their passports confiscated by Brazilian authorities -- fled the country using alternate travel documents rather than face what they believed to be trumped-up charges, sources said.

Head of embattled air marshal office to retireupdated: Tue Jul 20 2010 21:09:00

The head of the Federal Air Marshal Service's Orlando, Florida, office -- where supervisors allegedly used a "Jeopardy"-style game board to ridicule and retaliate against rank-and-file air marshals -- says he will retire in the coming months, officials said Tuesday.

U.S. air marshal may have left ammo, magazines in hotel air ductupdated: Fri Jun 11 2010 18:54:00

A U.S. federal air marshal may have violated Indian law after failing to properly secure his law enforcement equipment when inside the country, U.S. officials said Friday.

TSA nominee appears for confirmation hearingupdated: Thu Jun 10 2010 02:12:00

FBI Deputy Director John Pistole appears before the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday for the first of two confirmation hearings to become the head of the Transportation Security Administration.

Key Homeland Security posts go unfilledupdated: Thu Mar 04 2010 12:21:00

The war on terror is being fought without some key generals.

Did Kim Kardashian ID an air marshal?updated: Fri Feb 19 2010 14:03:00

Federal air marshals are supposed to blend in with passengers on planes, but an alleged run-in with a Twitter-happy celebrity is highlighting how technology could blow their cover in an instant.

Air marshals say service roiled with cronyism, chaosupdated: Thu Feb 04 2010 21:40:00

Despite calls from President Obama to beef up the program designed to provide security aboard U.S. flights, the Federal Air Marshal Service is in disarray, a CNN investigation has found.

'Four arrests for $800M'updated: Thu Feb 04 2010 21:40:00

Federal air marshals are being criticized for shoddy service and questionable results. CNN's Drew Griffin reports.

Air terror alert in Indiaupdated: Fri Jan 22 2010 11:27:00

India boosts air security after an apparent terror plot by al Qaeda-linked militants. CNN's Paula Newton reports.

McCain and Lieberman on terrorupdated: Fri Jan 15 2010 13:47:00

In an exclusive interview, CNN's John King talks with Sen. John McCain and Joe Lieberman about the fight against al Qaeda.

Experts question U.S. terror alert systemupdated: Fri Jan 15 2010 13:47:00

Despite the "palpable level of angst" that a source described over an al Qaeda threat against the United States, the national terror threat level remains at "Elevated" or "Yellow" -- where it has been stuck since 2005.

Security in the airupdated: Thu Jan 07 2010 16:19:00

Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano talks with CNN's Jeanne Meserve to discuss sharing terror watch lists with airlines.

Sources: Feds scrambling to find additional air marshalsupdated: Thu Jan 07 2010 16:19:00

The federal government is scrambling to find ways to comply with President Obama's order to put more air marshals on flights after a botched Christmas Day airline terrorist attack, government sources have told CNN.

Blame game won't stop terrorismupdated: Sun Jan 03 2010 15:36:00

Almost as soon as the botched Christmas airplane bombing hit the airwaves, the politics of national security reared its head.

Federal air marshals back in spotlight after attempted plane bombingupdated: Thu Dec 31 2009 19:12:00

As a federal air marshal, Robert MacLean typically spent five days a week crisscrossing the country on commercial flights, reading a lot of newspapers and John Grisham novels while keeping an eye out and trying to appear inconspicuous.

Marshals eye flying behaviorupdated: Thu Dec 31 2009 19:12:00

CNN's Brian Todd reports on whether behavioral screening at airports could have prevented the Northwest bombing attempt.

'Anatomically congruent' bombupdated: Tue Dec 29 2009 22:53:00

Is the 'anatomically congruent' bomb that the suspect allegedly carried foolproof to detection? CNN's Brian todd reports.

Testing of airport screening reveals flaws, GOP House member saysupdated: Tue Dec 29 2009 22:53:00

The most recent independent tests of airport checkpoints showed screener performance "falling off the charts," according to the top Republican on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Napolitano talks terror attackupdated: Mon Dec 28 2009 17:14:00

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the botched airline attack is not likely part of a wider terror plot.

Commentary: Don't let White House shakeup hurt our securityupdated: Thu Feb 12 2009 06:40:00

The Washington Post recently reported that Gen. Jim Jones, President Obama's national security adviser, is reviewing plans to reorganize the White House National Security and Homeland Security councils.

New homeland security chief dives right inupdated: Sat Jan 31 2009 09:19:00

In her first full week as the nation's homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano got a full dose of the job's diverse responsibilities -- responding to ice storms in the Midwest, dealing with Congress on budget matters and scrutinizing security plans for the Super Bowl.

TSA launches leak investigationupdated: Mon Jul 14 2008 18:13:00

Federal officers charged with keeping terrorists off planes are now searching their own ranks for staff who told CNN that few flights were protected by air marshals.

Richardson defends Obama voteupdated: Fri Jul 11 2008 23:19:00

Gov. Bill Richardson talks with Kiran Chetry about Sen. Barack Obama's vote on a controversial surveillance bill.

Obama's surveillance vote spurs blogging backlashupdated: Fri Jul 11 2008 23:19:00

Sen. Barack Obama's vote for a federal surveillance law that he had previously opposed has sparked a backlash from his online advocates, who had energized his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

What it is in the new intelligence billupdated: Wed Jul 09 2008 19:31:00

The Senate Wednesday passed legislation meant to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Bush comments on spy billupdated: Wed Jul 09 2008 19:31:00

President Bush praises Congress for passing a bill updating rules for government eavesdropping on suspected terrorists.

Air Marshal program in troubleupdated: Thu Apr 17 2008 16:23:00

The Federal Air Marshal Service is accused of lowering standards to fill vacancies. CNN's Drew Griffin reports.

Ex-marshal: Air marshal training 'a national disgrace' updated: Thu Apr 17 2008 16:23:00

Their mission is to protect airline passengers from acts of terror on U.S. flights. But in a special investigation, former and current air marshals told CNN that the number of marshals assigned to police flights is so low that the federal agency overseeing them has drastically lowered its firearms and psychological testing standards just so it can qualify new hires.

Air marshals MIAupdated: Wed Mar 26 2008 03:58:00

A CNN investigation reveals just 1 percent of U.S. commercial flights have air marshals on board. Drew Griffin reports.

Sources: Air marshals missing from almost all flights updated: Wed Mar 26 2008 03:58:00

Of the 28,000 commercial airline flights that take to the skies on an average day in the United States, fewer than 1 percent are protected by on-board, armed federal air marshals, a nationwide CNN investigation has found.

Time.com: Do Americans Care About Big Brother?updated: Fri Mar 14 2008 13:00:00

Analysis: Since 9/11, the U.S. has increasingly traded privacy for the promise of security, leaving civil liberties advocates flailing

Bush: Pass intelligence billupdated: Mon Feb 25 2008 15:38:00

In his weekly radio address, President Bush says Congress needs to pass a new intelligence bill.

Bush ups pressure on House to pass intelligence billupdated: Mon Feb 25 2008 15:38:00

President Bush on Monday urged the House of Representatives to vote on an update to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, saying, "If the enemy is calling to America, we really need to know what they're saying."

Telecoms that helped warrantless spying could get off the hookupdated: Fri Oct 19 2007 14:27:00

A bill that would grant immunity to telecommunications companies helping out in a no-warrant eavesdropping program authorized by President Bush and reinstate some court oversight to surveillance was OK'd by a Senate panel Thursday.

Federal judge rules 2 Patriot Act provisions unconstitutionalupdated: Wed Sep 26 2007 23:01:00

A federal court on Wednesday struck down two provisions of the Patriot Act dealing with searches and intelligence gathering, saying they violate the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures with regard to criminal prosecutions.

Auditors: Homeland Security gets mixed grades updated: Wed Sep 05 2007 23:39:00

Just days before the sixth anniversary of September 11, congressional auditors are giving mixed grades to the Department of Homeland Security on its efforts to unify 22 agencies into one department and other goals.

48 hour warningupdated: Wed Aug 08 2007 06:08:00

New legislation will require visitors to the United States to register their travel plans 48 hours before departing for the U.S. The agreement -- signed by the United States and the European Union -- will allow the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to continue using Passenger Name Record (PNR) data as a screening tool at U.S. borders.

FBI: London incident poses no U.S. threat, but be 'vigilant'updated: Mon Jul 02 2007 23:12:00

The discovery of an unexploded bomb in a parked London car poses no specific threat to the United States, the FBI said Friday, although it's urging police and the public to remain vigilant.

The customs declaration up closeupdated: Sat Jun 30 2007 04:34:00

Since March 2003, the collection of duties -- the taxes or "customs" levied against imported goods -- has fallen to the newly minted Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a Department of Homeland Security agency that encompasses four previously independent offices and enforces the border-sensitive laws and regulations of more than 40 other government divisions, from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to the Department of Agriculture.

Implementation of border security rules delayedupdated: Wed Jun 20 2007 13:58:00

Travelers now have more time to gather the secure travel documents they will need at U.S. land and sea entry points when a new identification requirement plan is fully implemented, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department said in a joint statement issued Wednesday.

Time.com: Officer Blamed in TB Caseupdated: Thu Jun 07 2007 19:40:00

(WASHINGTON)--U.S. border officials told Congress on Wednesday that a lone officer undid their efforts to stop a man with a dangerous form of tuberculosis from entering the country -- but that explanation was met with skepticism from lawmakers who said the case exposed plenty of holes in the nation's security."We dodged a bullet," House Homeland Security Committee chairman Bennie Thompson said as he opened a hearing into the case of Andrew Speaker, a 31-year-old Atlanta lawyer whose wedding and honeymoon travel caused an international health scare.Speaker was testifying to another congressional committee by audio hookup from the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, where he is hospitalized in isolation.Thompson, D-Miss., said the explanations by Homeland Security and public health officials don't explain why they always seemed to be steps behind Speaker as he traveled to Europe last month to get married, have a honeymoon, and return to the U.S."We should have connected more dots," said T

TB patient insists he was never banned from travelupdated: Thu Jun 07 2007 07:13:00

The tuberculosis patient who set off an international health scare by flying to Europe then Canada before driving back to the U.S. told lawmakers Wednesday that doctors told him he was not contagious.

TB scare limits border officers' authority on entry rulesupdated: Tue Jun 05 2007 17:16:00

Border officers will no longer have the discretion to ignore directives barring someone from entering the country after a man crossed the border with a rare form of tuberculosis last month, a Department of Homeland Security official said Tuesday.

Border security scrutinized after TB patient slips inupdated: Thu May 31 2007 01:09:00

A senior House member wants to know how a dangerously infected man managed to get through U.S. Customs and Border Protection even though his passport had been flagged in their computer system.

Group: Terrorism not focus of Homeland Securityupdated: Sun May 27 2007 18:04:00

Claims of terrorism represented less than 0.01 percent of charges filed in recent years in immigration courts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to a report issued Sunday by an independent research group.

Audit: FBI's Patriot Act snooping broke rulesupdated: Fri Mar 09 2007 07:05:00

The FBI is guilty of "serious misuse" of the power to secretly obtain private information under the Patriot Act, a government audit said Friday.

No-fly list complaints site launchedupdated: Thu Feb 22 2007 09:01:00

Travelers whose names mistakenly appear on the U.S. no-fly list can now apply to their good name repaired. The U.S. Department for Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a new system that allows travelers to complain if they have been wrongly refused transit, been detained or subject to additional security checks.

CNNMoney: U.S. warns financial firms of al Qaeda threatupdated: Thu Nov 30 2006 19:22:00

A Department of Homeland Security advisory cautioning that al Qaeda may be planning cyber attacks on banking and financial institution Web sites was issued out of an abundance of caution, although there is no corroboration, a DHS spokesman told CNN Thursday.

Feds: Threat against NFL stadiums not credibleupdated: Wed Oct 18 2006 16:15:00

The Department of Homeland Security has sent an advisory to the National Football League and local officials advising of a possible, uncorroborated bomb threat against some NFL stadiums.

U.S.: 'Do your attacks now' message triggered arrestsupdated: Fri Aug 11 2006 22:35:00

Suspects in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights received a message within the last three days in which they were advised, "Do your attacks now," according to U.S. sources.

Terror plot spotlights passenger screening systemupdated: Thu Aug 10 2006 16:14:00

The long lines and bulging trash cans at U.S. airports due to increased security after a suspected terror plot was uncovered Thursday had some aviation experts questioning the focus of America's air passenger screening system.

Police: Plot to blow up aircraft foiledupdated: Thu Aug 10 2006 01:10:00

British police say they have arrested 21 people in connection with a terrorist plot to blow up aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States.

Report: Border guards failed to detect fake IDsupdated: Wed Aug 02 2006 09:17:00

They carried fake IDs and used phony names. But the ne'er-do-wells -- actually plain-clothed government investigators -- were able to get into the United States anyway.

The GOP's faulty moral compassupdated: Tue Jun 20 2006 12:14:00

Gee, the Republicans seem to have lost their moral compass since Tom DeLay quit. Who knew it could get worse without that pillar of rectitude from Texas? What a snakes' nest of corruption and nastiness.

Homeland Security accepts fake IDupdated: Mon Jun 12 2006 17:38:00

A man using a fake identification card was able to enter the Homeland Security Department headquarters in Washington, he said, even though the United States government considers the type of Mexican-issued card he used invalid.

Homeland Security grants rile D.C., NYCupdated: Wed May 31 2006 19:40:00

The Homeland Security Department said Wednesday that the cities of New York and Washington will get less money in this year's allocation of grants, drawing harsh criticism from politicians in both areas.

Report: Agency policies put air marshals at riskupdated: Fri May 19 2006 21:34:00

The Federal Air Marshal Service is jeopardizing the safety of rank-and-file officers with policies that could reveal the identities of the plainclothes marshals, congressional investigators said in a draft report obtained Friday by CNN.

CNNMoney: Verizon stock takes hit on $50 billion lawsuitupdated: Mon May 15 2006 10:56:00

A lawsuit is asking a federal court to order President Bush, the National Security Agency and Verizon to end a secret snooping program, and Verizon's stock took a hit on the news Monday.

Ex-FEMA official: Agency better when independentupdated: Thu Apr 27 2006 12:10:00

A Senate panel chastised the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday, saying the disaster response organization needs to be scrapped.

Senators: 'Bumbling' FEMA must goupdated: Thu Apr 27 2006 07:06:00

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which floundered in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, should be abolished and replaced with a new organization, a Senate committee recommended Thursday.

Co-workers: DHS official had previous pornography incidentupdated: Fri Apr 07 2006 18:44:00

A Department of Homeland Security spokesman charged with soliciting a minor over the Internet was disciplined in a previous job after an incident in which pornographic images were seen on an office computer, his friends and former co-workers said.

Homeland Security official arrested in child sex stingupdated: Tue Apr 04 2006 23:01:00

A Department of Homeland Security official was arrested Tuesday night on charges of using his computer to seduce a child after he allegedly struck up sexually explicit conversations with a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, authorities said.

Lawyer in Moussaoui case put on leaveupdated: Thu Mar 16 2006 13:56:00

The Transportation Security Administration lawyer who improperly contacted witnesses in the Zacarias Moussaoui trial has been placed on paid administrative leave, Department of Homeland Security officials said.

Feds try to salvage Moussaoui caseupdated: Wed Mar 15 2006 11:41:00

Federal prosecutors Wednesday asked a judge to reconsider what they called a "terribly excessive" ruling in an effort to salvage their crippled death-penalty case against al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui.

GOP lawmakers propose compromises on portsupdated: Tue Mar 07 2006 18:50:00

Two Republican lawmakers have submitted compromises to the White House aimed at ending a dispute over a deal that would give a United Arab Emirates-owned company control of several U.S. port terminals.

Key questions about the Dubai port dealupdated: Mon Mar 06 2006 15:05:00

The DP World deal to obtain the right to operate in U.S. ports has engulfed Washington in controversy since the deal was announced in February. Below are some answers to key questions about the deal and the resulting controversy:

Ex-FEMA director admits errors, calls for Chertoff's resignationupdated: Fri Mar 03 2006 09:48:00

The former federal emergency director who resigned after the heavily criticized response to Hurricane Katrina admitted Friday that he should have been more forthcoming about problems with the government's response to the storm but faulted the performance of his former boss, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, and called for his resignation.

Ex-FEMA chief: Chertoff should be firedupdated: Thu Mar 02 2006 22:41:00

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff should be fired for his handling of Hurricane Katrina, former federal emergency management chief Michael Brown said Thursday, accusing Chertoff of lacking disaster management knowledge.

Transcripts, tape show Bush, Brown warned on Katrinaupdated: Thu Mar 02 2006 01:36:00

A newly released transcript from a video conference the day Hurricane Katrina struck seems to reinforce arguments that governments at all levels identified the potential dangers from the storm but were under-prepared for the devastation.

Lawmaker: Port deal never probed for terror tiesupdated: Wed Mar 01 2006 14:12:00

A review of a United Arab Emirates-owned company's plan to take over a portion of operations at key U.S. ports never looked into whether the company had ties to al Qaeda or other terrorists, a key Republican lawmaker told CNN on Wednesday.

Senate panel attacks homeland security budgetupdated: Tue Feb 28 2006 15:12:00

Both Republican and Democratic senators took aim Tuesday at the president's proposed 2007 homeland security budget in a hearing, saying it fails to live up to Bush's strong warnings about the threat of terrorist attack.

GOP working on solution to ports dealupdated: Sat Feb 25 2006 11:53:00

Republicans in Congress are crafting a solution under which the controversial deal allowing a state-owned Arab company to run some terminals at six U.S. ports could move forward.

Port authority sues to stop acquisitionupdated: Fri Feb 24 2006 11:17:00

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey filed a lawsuit Friday in a New Jersey civil court to prevent a deal that would transfer control of the Newark container terminal to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates.

Chertoff vs. Brown, round twoupdated: Tue Feb 21 2006 11:28:00

It's been one year since Michael Chertoff was appointed head of the Department of Homeland Security, and it's not a happy anniversary. Chertoff spoke before a Senate hearing this week, facing his critics and explaining his agency's lackluster performance during Hurricane Katrina.

Lawmakers debate ways to fix FEMAupdated: Sun Feb 19 2006 13:03:00

While officials debated Sunday what should be done to fix the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff warned against drastic changes with hurricane season just a few months away.

Homeland Security chief defends Katrina responseupdated: Wed Feb 15 2006 07:47:00

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff took responsibility at a Senate hearing Wednesday for his department's inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina, which "unnecessarily prolonged" the suffering of people along the Gulf Coast.

Air marshals face smuggling chargesupdated: Mon Feb 13 2006 15:25:00

Two federal air marshals are facing drug charges after allegedly agreeing to smuggle cocaine from a man who turned out to be a government witness, the U.S. attorney's office in Houston, Texas, announced Monday.

Report: Katrina response a 'failure of leadership'updated: Mon Feb 13 2006 10:16:00

A congressional report to be released this week slams the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, calling it a "failure of leadership" that left people stranded when they were most in need.

Brown says he's been made Katrina scapegoat updated: Fri Feb 10 2006 06:44:00

The embattled former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency portrayed himself during testimony Friday as a scapegoat who had fought for emergency aid to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.

Democrats: Katrina e-mails show levee breaches reported earlyupdated: Fri Feb 10 2006 02:35:00

Senate Democrats investigating FEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina say they have documented nearly 30 instances in which federal and local government officials gave early reports on Aug. 29 that levees had broken and that New Orleans was flooding, including one report at 8:30 a.m. the day of the storm.

U.S. sends back Pinochet daughterupdated: Sat Jan 28 2006 05:33:00

The eldest daughter of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet has been sent back to Argentina, two days after she arrived in the United States after fleeing tax charges in Chile, a U.S. Homeland Security official said.

Lieberman: White House hindering Katrina probeupdated: Tue Jan 24 2006 16:30:00

The White House is dodging questions about Hurricane Katrina response and has instructed other agencies to join it in fending off investigators, Sen. Joseph Lieberman said on Tuesday. The White House denies the allegations.

Cheney: NSA eavesdropping critical to U.S. securityupdated: Wed Jan 04 2006 12:00:00

In a robust defense of the nation's post-9/11 domestic eavesdropping program, Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday said the tool is "critical" for U.S. national security.

Senate gives Patriot Act six more monthsupdated: Wed Dec 21 2005 10:55:00

Senators voted late Wednesday night to extend some expiring and contentious provisions of the Patriot Act for six months after leaders announced minutes earlier that they had reached a bipartisan agreement.

Bush says he signed NSA wiretap orderupdated: Sat Dec 17 2005 10:25:00

In acknowledging the message was true, President Bush took aim at the messenger Saturday, saying that a newspaper jeopardized national security by revealing that he authorized wiretaps on U.S. citizens after September 11.

Patriot Act's fate remains uncertainupdated: Wed Dec 14 2005 15:07:00

Roving wiretaps and the ability to peek into private medical records are among the provisions of the Patriot Act that will remain intact if the Senate follows the House lead on the bill.

White House backs air marshals' actions updated: Thu Dec 08 2005 07:23:00

One day after federal air marshals shot and killed an unarmed airplane passenger in Miami, Florida, the White House defended the marshals' actions.

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