Justice Department: NSA May Need To Begin Winding Down Surveillance Program As Early As Friday

Justice Department: NSA May Need To Begin Winding Down Surveillance Program As Early As Friday
FILE - This Thursday, June 6, 2013 file photo shows the National Security Administration (NSA) campus in Fort Meade, Md. The American Civil Liberties Union, Wikimedia and other groups are suing the National Security Agency over its surveillance practices. The lawsuit says the agency violates the free speech and privacy rights of Americans by tapping into the U.S. internet backbone to monitor online communications. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
FILE - This Thursday, June 6, 2013 file photo shows the National Security Administration (NSA) campus in Fort Meade, Md. The American Civil Liberties Union, Wikimedia and other groups are suing the National Security Agency over its surveillance practices. The lawsuit says the agency violates the free speech and privacy rights of Americans by tapping into the U.S. internet backbone to monitor online communications. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

The Justice Department has informed lawmakers that the National Security Agency will need to begin shutting down its bulk collection of Americans’ phone records after Friday if Congress fails to act by then to reauthorize or amend the program.

In a memo, the department said the NSA will need to act “to ensure that it does not engage in any unauthorized collection” or use of the data should the program not be extended by the congressionally mandated June 1 deadline.

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