Congress continues to exercise oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) misuse of USA PATRIOT Act powers. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights held a hearing on the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General report on the misreporting and abuse of National Security Letter (NSL) powers. A common theme from the four witnesses at the hearing was the need for Congress to reform the USA PATRIOT Act and curtail the FBI's NSL powers.

An audit by journalist groups found that public access to Comprehensive Emergency Response Plans (CERP), as required by law, was inconsistent and unreliable around the country. Only 44 percent of the requests for the CERP were granted in full, whereas 20 percent were partially released and 36 percent were completely denied.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) received 89 comments, dominated by industry, in response to the proposed interim rule on chemical plant security. The rule establishes the first-ever federal chemical security program. Chemical companies and industry associations generally expressed strong support for the rule, whereas most public interest groups and government officials expressed great concern.

President George W. Bush will not reauthorize the National Security Agency's (NSA) Terrorist Surveillance Program (TSP) through secret Executive Order, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced in a Jan. 17 letter to lawmakers that DOJ will instead seek court orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and that henceforth, the program will operate in compliance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). While the announcement and the increased accountability are welcomed by many of the program's critics, many questions remain unanswered.