Concerns over the warrantless domestic spying program by the National Security Agency (NSA) have not gone away. Congressional hearings continue and expand as legal actions begin.

A briefing for House congressional staff held on Feb. 23 to inform Congress about the dangers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposals to reduce Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemical reporting was the first official forum of its kind. Staff from more than 30 offices heard from a diverse panel of experts on how the changes that EPA is proposing would undermine first responder readiness, harm worker safety, interfere with state programs and hinder cancer research. The briefing was sponsored by Reps. Stephen Lunch (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Hilda Solis (D-CA).

A new report from OMB Watch explains concerns about the impact of the war on terror on Muslim charities, and provides a detailed update on the status of U.S.-based Muslim charities that have been shut down by the Treasury Department. Muslim Charities and the War on Terror: Top Ten Concerns and Status Update notes that, "Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, U.S.-based charities have become targets in the government's war on terror financing. Despite the sweeping implications for all domestic nonprofit organizations, the lion's share of the burden of increased scrutiny, suspicion, and pre-emptive action has fallen on Muslim groups. This imbalanced campaign raises significant legal and ethical questions." The report has been updated to reflect closure of another Muslim charity, on Feb. 19, 2006.