Spy Satellite Program Is Eliminated

The Obama administration is planning to eliminate a spy satellite program at the Department of Homeland Security that had produced concerns about domestic spying, officials said. The program would have given state and local law enforcement officials access to high-resolution imagery from spy satellites to aid them in disaster relief efforts, bolster border security and help secure major events like the Super Bowl. The program, the National Applications Office, was first proposed two years ago by the Bush administration but had not yet begun operations. Civil libertarians and some influential lawmakers had criticized it. Officials said the homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano, ordered a review of the program shortly after she was confirmed. The decision to close the office was first reported by The Associated Press. NYTimes