Dems want delay for Homeland Security satellite program

House Homeland Security Committee Democrats on Thursday called for a moratorium on a Homeland Security program that uses satellites for domestic purposes until the Bush administration submits detailed information on how it will operate.

Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., called a hearing to examine the department's plan to open an office Oct. 1 to coordinate the use of satellites and space technology for domestic uses. Thompson told Homeland Security officials his committee does not have enough information on the program and how privacy and civil liberties of U.S. citizens would be protected.

"I think that we're going to formally request that, unless they're able to put all these things in writing to answer how this program will operate, it be delayed," Thompson said during a break at the hearing.

Thompson is putting Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee Chairwoman Jane Harman, D-Calif., in charge of oversight and said that they will determine Thursday what additional information they need and send a letter to the department. "I think a moratorium is a good idea," said Harman, who was critical of the program. "I would like us to do whatever we can to delay this program from proceeding until we have all the materials."

She added: "What I worry about is that even if this program is well designed and executed properly ... that someone somewhere else in the administration could hijack it and use it for other purposes."

Harman and others on the committee questioned whether the program would violate the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the U.S. military from conducting domestic law enforcement.

Homeland Security officials defended the program, saying they are confident it is legal and that privacy rights and civil liberties will be protected. The program consists of moving an office that coordinates the use of satellites from Interior to Homeland Security and expanding the agencies that can access imagery.

Homeland Security Chief Intelligence Officer Charles Allen said Thompson's committee was given a concept of operations for the program Aug. 17. Allen said the Interior office operated under an ad hoc basis, while the new office will be more structured and have multiple layers of oversight.

"We're not asking for new authorities or new forms of legislation," Allen added. A committee aide said the concept of operations document is insufficient.

The Homeland Security Department's top privacy and civil liberties officials testified they believe the program will comply with privacy and civil liberties laws. Its chief privacy officer, Hugo Teufel, said his office learned of the program in November and the privacy office became officially involved during the spring. The department's civil rights and civil liberties officer, Daniel Sutherland, said his office did not become involved in the program until late July, and is working on writing operating procedures for it.