Opinion ID: 1237924
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: NSA Program

Text: The CIA withheld the NSA program, citing FOIA Exemption 3, which exempts from disclosure matters specifically exempted from disclosure by statute, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(3), and pointing to the National Security Agency Act of 1959. [18] Lahr concedes that the NSA program itself falls within this exemption, but argues on appeal that the data inputs are segregable and should be disclosed. The district court concluded that Exemption 3 was applicable to the software in its entirety. It is not entirely clear, however, whether this pronouncement included what Lahr refers to as the programs inputs, but the government has not released any of these inputs. Under Exemption 3 and the NSA statute, information is properly withheld if the agency describe[s] the intelligence activity involved, and ... show[s] why disclosure of requested materials could reveal the nature of that activity. Hayden v. Nat'l Sec. Agency/Cent. Sec. Serv., 608 F.2d 1381, 1391 (D.C.Cir.1979). The agency need not make a specific showing of potential harm to national security because Congress has already, in enacting the statute, decided that disclosure of NSA activities is potentially harmful. Id. at 1390. The CIA submitted an initial affidavit from a senior NSA official stating that release of the computer program could expose how the U.S. Government analyzes the performance characteristics of foreign weapons systems that are aerodynamic or ballistic. The district court found this description wanting and ordered an in camera affidavit. After reviewing that in camera submission, the district court concluded that the affidavit sufficiently described how the program, a unique tool for foreign weapons system analysis, could harm the nation if disclosed. The district court then concluded that Exemption 3 is applicable. After reviewing the NSA's affidavit in camera, we agree with the district court. The affidavit states that the program is used to analyze foreign weapons, and outlines specific reasons why release of the program, including the data inputs, would put the agency's sources and methods at risk. We hold that the affidavit offers a sufficient explanation. The program and the inputs therefore fall within Exemption 3 and were properly withheld.