Hill Sends Letter Opposing WH Policy Against GAO Investigation of Intelligence Agencies
House and Senate members sent a joint letter to President Obama opposing the White House policy statement expressing "strong objection to provisions" in the House and Senate Intelligence Authorization Act that would direct National Intelligence Agencies to cooperate with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) when it is conducting investigation at the request of Congress. The post 9-11 roles and responsibilities of once foreign intelligence agencies have changed, with some agencies now conducting activities within the United States. This has raised questions regarding transparency, accountability, and oversight to Congressional committees charged with domestic law-enforcement and national security oversight. The GAO is the investigative arm of the United States Congress and has routinely conducted investigations into matters regarding the conduct of agencies and private sector entities that impact government policy.
