Page 10 - Financial Report 2020

PRIVACY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

On behalf of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight
Board, I am pleased to present the Fiscal Year 2020
Agency Financial Report. This Agency Financial Report,
the first ever issued by the Board, presents the
agency’s financial statements and the opinion of our
independent auditor regarding the Board’s financial
statements and internal controls. In FY 2020, the Board
achieved a clean audit opinion with no findings or
required adjustments to our financial statements. The
auditors found no material weaknesses, significant
deficiencies, or issues of noncompliance with laws and
regulations. In addition, the Board has now addressed all recommendations from the
agency’s previous financial audits.

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board is an independent agency within the
Executive Branch, established in its current form by the Implementing Recommendations
of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The Board's mission is to ensure that the Federal
1
Government's efforts to prevent terrorism are balanced with the need to protect privacy
and civil liberties. To do so, the Board conducts oversight and provides advice regarding
Executive Branch regulations, policies, procedures, and activities related to efforts to
protect the nation from terrorism.
Notable accomplishments by the Board include:
Ø Issuing public reports regarding Executive Branch activities related to
counterterrorism efforts, such as the following:

o Report on the Government’s Use of Call Detail Records Program under the USA
Freedom Act (2020)

o Presidential Policy Directive 28 Report (2018)
o Report on the Surveillance Program Operated Pursuant to Section 702 of the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (2014)

o Report on the Telephone Records Program Conducted under Section 215 of the
USA PATRIOT Act and on the Operations of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Court (2014)

Ø Providing independent, expert advice in response to numerous requests from
Intelligence Community elements and other agencies involved in counterterrorism.

1 Pub. L. No. 110-53, § 801 (2007), codified at 42 U.S.C. § 2000ee.

FY 2020 AGENCY FINANCIAL REPORT 1