The incredible growth in the amount of money spent by the federal government on contractors, with almost no corresponding increase in oversight or management, was highlighted in a recent New York Times article, "In Washington, Contractors Take on Biggest Role Ever." According to the article, the amount spent on federal contracts has doubled since 2000, from $207 billion to $400 billion. The lack of sufficient government oversight has led to a virtual free reign for contractors, who are not answerable to the public and have not been called to account by the federal government.

President George W. Bush will not reauthorize the National Security Agency's (NSA) Terrorist Surveillance Program (TSP) through secret Executive Order, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced in a Jan. 17 letter to lawmakers that DOJ will instead seek court orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), and that henceforth, the program will operate in compliance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). While the announcement and the increased accountability are welcomed by many of the program's critics, many questions remain unanswered.

On Dec. 28, 2006, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule for the creation of a chemical facility security program. However, the program appears to provide little means for increasing security and shrouds important assessments in a veil of secrecy that will prevent any public accountability or oversight.