The National Security Protection Act of 1985 is a 1985 Senate hearing that lays out a plan to strengthen the United States’ counterintelligence capabilities and tighten penalties for espionage.
This transcript from the Subcommittee on Manpower and Personnel explains the bill’s goals, including changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the use of polygraph examinations, and steps to reduce the number of people with access to classified information. It presents the political and practical considerations behind national security policy during the era.
- Key provisions that redefine espionage penalties and expand counterintelligence powers.
- Plans for polygraph examinations to screen clearance eligibility and ongoing access.
- Proposals to limit the number of personnel with top-secret clearances and require reporting to Congress.
- Discussion of how these measures aim to deter disclosure and protect national security.
Ideal for readers of government policy, national security history, and lawmakers’ deliberations on espionage and intelligence policy.