Executive Branch (In)Action
GAO Oversight Office at the NSA Remains Empty*
At a recent hearing, the outgoing director of the Government Accountability Office stated the GAO office at the National Security Agency remains empty because no one in Congress has asked the organization to perform oversight of the NSA. Government and public policy experts on the panel aid legislation is needed that would affirm the right of GAO to audit activities of the intelligence agencies.
(*Note: GAO is a Congressional Agency; NSA is an Executive Agency)
3 Nominations to Empty Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which has been empty for almost a month, may have members again. President Bush has nominated three individuals to the five-member Board, which has been vacant since January 30.
No Progress on FEC Nominations
Senate leaders and the Bush Administration have failed to reach an agreement for filling seats on the Federal Election Commission and for other agency-level nominations. The six-member commission has four empty seats, and is two votes short of the quorum needed to hand down official guidance to federal candidates.
PFIAB No More
In an executive order issued last week, President Bush re-designated the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB) as the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB). Experts said that this move appeared to diminish the Board’s autonomy and establish greater presidential control over its activities.