The Newly Created National Applications Office has a rather mundane, almost Orwellian name, especially since the "application" being referred to is the employment of U.S. military and spy agency satellites in the domestic arena. The Department of Homeland Security announced the creation of the new office during Congress' August recess. One of its duties will be to serve as a clearinghouse for requests from U.S. law enforcement agencies that want to task remote sensing satellites to gather information on potential terrorists or criminals. Members of the House Homeland Security Committee found out about the office from the pages of the Wall Street Journal instead of department officials, which prompted a hearing on the program within days of their return.
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