Congressman Biggs Triumphs as ‘Hemisphere’ Surveillance Data is Unveiled

By Matthew Holloway |

The White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has come under scrutiny following the release of details surrounding the Hemisphere Project, a controversial surveillance initiative. The response was triggered by a bipartisan letter from Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently unmasked previously redacted information from a March 2019 report about the Drug Enforcement Agency’s use of Administrative Subpoenas for bulk data collection.

Biggs has persistently advocated for greater transparency regarding the Hemisphere Project, bringing it into the spotlight in November 2023 during an interview with Newsmax. He claimed, “The feds are actually contracting to buy personal data from big telecom companies.” This, according to him, includes information on anyone making calls, regardless of whether that person is a customer of the telecom provider. He expressed grave concerns over the implications of this data collection, particularly in light of former DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith’s involvement.

A revealing report from WIRED indicated that the Biden Administration allocated over $6 million to support the Hemisphere Project, which purportedly targets any call routed through AT&T’s network. Senator Wyden raised significant alarms about the program’s legality, emphasizing the need for scrutiny.

The Project for Privacy & Surveillance Accountability commented on the revelations, drawing parallels to a now-defunct NSA program. They noted, “#Hemisphere is larger than a previous @NSAGov program shuttered after continual abuse.” The organization criticized the practice of parallel construction, which has long been a point of contention among privacy advocates.

In his letter, Congressman Biggs articulated concerns about the ONDCP’s covert funding of another extensive surveillance operation impacting millions of law-abiding citizens. He emphasized the necessity for meaningful Congressional oversight and judicial checks on such programs.

Biggs reiterated, “The release of this information underscores the need for similar legislative reforms to be enacted across government programs.” He also noted that federal funding for the Hemisphere Project concluded on September 30, 2024, leading to its suspension.

In a joint statement, Biggs and Wyden affirmed, “This report contains information that the public has a right to see. The American people demand transparency from their government.” They expressed gratitude to the DOJ OIG for advancing public knowledge and anticipated further collaborative efforts to enhance government accountability.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.