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National Applications Office

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The Dual Nature of the NAO

Trying to explain the National Applications Office requires a two-tiered approach. Much of what the National Applications Office does is reasonable and of great service to the country. In providing current information for fighting wildfires, and dealing with other natural disasters, for example, there is no question that what the NAO is designed to do is legal and commendable.

However, with the passage of the Protect America Act in 2007, and the extension of that law with the even more extreme FISA Amendments Act in 2008, the National Applications Office has extraordinary powers of surveillance that enable it to take on a role that is misguided and unconstitutional at best, and sinister and totalitarian at worst.

The National Applications Office is supposed to coordinate information gathered through remote sensing technology used on satellites and high-flying drone spy planes. What's unsettling is that the remarkable imaging systems on these craft can be used by the NAO for "law enforcement" functions, meaning that satellites and high flying aircraft are watching over the personal affairs of Americans within the borders of the USA, and recording the events into a number of police and government intelligence databases.

As for myself, I think that definitely qualifies as the kind of unreasonable search and seizure that the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution was supposed to prevent.

Democracy Now on the National Applications Office

A short summary by journalist Amy Goodman

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Jane Harman Speaks on the NAO

Harman's introduces legislation to close down the National Applications Office

Madam Speaker, some of the most powerful military and intelligence satellites in the world are designed and produced in my Congressional District. They are remarkably formidable tools that daily assist our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and are indispensable in learning and thwarting the plans of those who would do us harm.

But imagine, for a moment, what it would be like if one of these satellites were directed on your neighborhood or home, a school or place or worship--and without an adequate legal framework or operating procedures in place for regulating their use. I daresay the reaction might be that Big Brother has finally arrived and the black helicopters can't be far behind.

Yet this is precisely what the Department of Homeland Security proposes to do in standing up the benign-sounding National Applications Office , or NAO.

Despite objections by the civil liberties community, a series of letters sent by Members of Congress, an established record of opposition by the House Homeland Security Committee and the prior fencing of funds, the DHS has requested funding in the classified annex to its FY2010 budget for the NAO.

The Appropriations Committee has repeatedly expressed skepticism about the need for the NAO, and fenced funding for the office last year. I understand that the Committee intends to send a strong message again this year. I introduce two bills today to stop the Department of Homeland Security from moving ahead with the misguided National Applications Office .

The first bill, introduced with Representative Norm Dicks, prohibits DHS from expending any funds on this office . The second bill de-authorizes the NAO, requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to close the office immediately.

As proposed, the NAO, housed in the DHS Office of Intelligence & Analysis, the NAO would manage the tasking of military intelligence satellites over the United States - despite the absence a of clear legal framework, legitimate Posse Comitatus concerns, and even though the Interior Department already has existing circumscribed authority to deploy satellites over large-scale public events or natural disasters.

In its current form, the NAO would enable a group of undefined law enforcement and homeland security "users" greater access to imagery collection capabilities of the intelligence community--purportedly to supplement data already available during disasters or to aid in "investigations." It would serve as a clearinghouse for requests by law enforcement, border security, and other domestic homeland security agencies to access real-time, high-quality feeds from spy satellites. Except law enforcement officials haven't asked for the additional capability and major law enforcement organizations do not believe it is necessary.

The new DHS leadership has assured me in my role as the Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Terrorism Risk Assessment that the issue is under review. Although Congress last year withheld most funding for the NAO, the Department has again budgeted for the office (the exact amount is classified) without prior notification of the relevant congressional committees.

Well, not if we can help it.

Today, we introduce legislation to shut down the NAO - period.

News About the National Applications Office

Inquiring articles from Irregular Times

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The Promised Legislation

On June 4, 2009 Jane Harman introduced the promised legislation, H.R. 2703 & H.R. 2704. H.R. 2703 has only one co-sponsor, and H.R. 2704 has no co-sponsors at all. Contact your representative and ask why they're not supporting it.

Congress and the National Applications Office

News about the National Application Office from That's My Congress

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Spread the Word About the NAO

Wear this National Applications Office tshirt to provoke some questions

Nothing bothers spies more than to have their operations discussed openly by people on the street. Spies thrive on silence.

That's why, in working against the unconstitutional efforts of the National Applications Office to coordinate Big Brother satellite spy programs by the American government against its own people, talking with your friends and neighbors about the problem is essential. But how do you get the conversation started?

Stop the National Applications Office Anti-Surveillance T-Shirt
Wear this Stop the Spying, Stop the NAO TShirt. That will get the questions started.

Share What You Know About The National Applications Office

Apply some focus on the NAO

Leave your comments about the NAO and Representative Harman's attempt to close the office down.

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  • Reply
    philip s cortese 315-769-8551 315-769-1871 315-600-0636 Oct 18, 2009 @ 7:04 pm | delete
    they have destroyed my family...my wifes cousin is an ice agent overseeing the project that is providing st. lawrence county in northern ny with millions of dollars...they are on my families computors their phones including cell phone and televisions...no surprise the feeling to me of big brother.. please help..they stole my two boys ages 12 and 14 and gave them to my wife because my 14 year old with 140 iq.. took pictures of sattelites and presentented them to the courts...they are trying anfd have repeatededly put me and my brothers in jail..especially after going to the press.. when i called i.g. o. of dhs.. they accused me of threatening the president and sent secret sewrvice agents to my house..they have thrown me in psychological centers and paid top dept, of defense spsych to say bad stuff.. i have seen 22 psychyatrist whom concur i have a 145 to 160 iq.. please help.. they are killing my kids and my parents and our financially security as well as their physical health .please
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irregularworld

I am native resident of Upstate New York who lives in the 24th congressional District, in the village of Trumansburg, in the town of Ulysses, in Tompk... more »

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