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III. (U) Operational Use of the USA Freedom Act CDR
Program
(U) This section describes how an NSA analyst would use the CDR program to assist his
or her counterterrorism mission; how the CDR program provided analytic material for
intelligence reporting since 2015; and how FBI used NSA’s intelligence reporting in its
counterterrorism and investigative efforts.
A. (U) How NSA Analysts Used the USA Freedom Act CDR
Program
(U) As part of its signals intelligence mission, NSA collects foreign intelligence from
communications and information systems to support intelligence needs across the government. 122
To answer terrorism-related requests, NSA maintains an office of counterterrorism within its
operations directorate. 123 That office brings all lawful authorities and intelligence relationships
to bear in its collection and analysis of signals intelligence, providing valuable insight into the
terrorist threats to the country. 124
(U) When a new terrorism threat is discovered or a terrorist attack occurs, NSA’s office
of counterterrorism uses all its legal authorities to collect and analyze intelligence. 125 Its analysis
informs policymakers and law enforcement about the threat and aids in their decision-making
processes. 126 Time is of the essence in the immediate aftermath of an attack or when an
imminent threat is discovered, so NSA analysts routinely leverage intelligence relationships and
utilize a broad array of authorities to obtain and access the highest quality information they can,
as quickly as they can. 127
(S//NF) For example, hypothetically, if a terrorist attack occurred in New York City, an
NSA analyst would seek information from an FBI analyst liaison
. The FBI analyst would attempt to ensure that any information relating
to the attack in FBI’s possession that could legally be shared with NSA was quickly relayed to
NSA. Likewise, NSA would pass any pertinent intelligence to FBI, subject to applicable legal
122 (U) NSA briefing to the Board (May 23, 2019).
123 (U) NSA briefing to the Board (May 23, 2019).
124 (U) NSA briefing to the Board (May 23, 2019).
125 (U) NSA briefing to the Board (May 23, 2019).
126 (U) NSA briefing to the Board (May 23, 2019).
127 (U) NSA briefing to the Board (May 23, 2019).
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