Army General Tapped to Lead NSA Vowed He Doesn't Know Much About Big Controversy Surrounding Spy Agency's Powers
The nominee for the director of the National Security Agency, Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, has found himself in a difficult situation during his confirmation hearings. The Army general, who was nominated by President Donald Trump earlier this year to replace the previous NSA director, was repeatedly asked about how he would use the agency's vast spying powers.
Rudd kept his answers vague and seemed uncertain about how to navigate the complex issue of backdoor searches on Americans, a topic that has been at the center of controversy for years. When questioned by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rudd said he did not know much about the law governing these searches, which is set to expire in April.
The issue of backdoor searches is one of the most contentious aspects of NSA spying, with many arguing that it represents a huge invasion of Americans' privacy. The government has argued that these searches are necessary to prevent terrorist attacks, but critics say they have been misused in the past and could lead to further abuse.
Rudd's vague responses on this issue have raised concerns among privacy advocates, who say his lack of clarity on the matter suggests he may not be committed to upholding Americans' constitutional rights. "Despite Rudd's assurances that he will uphold his constitutional duties as NSA Director, the agency has a long history of violating Americans' privacy and other constitutional rights through sweeping data collection practices," said Hajar Hammado, a senior policy adviser at the left-leaning group Demand Progress.
The nominee's failure to provide clear answers on this issue is not surprising, given that he has limited familiarity with the law governing backdoor searches. Rudd claimed in a written questionnaire that he did not know much about the law, stating that it was an issue he had "limited familiarity within my current role with USINDOPACOM."
As Rudd prepares to face more questioning from lawmakers, his answers will be closely watched by observers and critics alike. His failure to provide clear guidance on how he would use the NSA's spying powers has raised questions about his commitment to upholding Americans' constitutional rights and protecting their privacy.
The nominee for the director of the National Security Agency, Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, has found himself in a difficult situation during his confirmation hearings. The Army general, who was nominated by President Donald Trump earlier this year to replace the previous NSA director, was repeatedly asked about how he would use the agency's vast spying powers.
Rudd kept his answers vague and seemed uncertain about how to navigate the complex issue of backdoor searches on Americans, a topic that has been at the center of controversy for years. When questioned by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rudd said he did not know much about the law governing these searches, which is set to expire in April.
The issue of backdoor searches is one of the most contentious aspects of NSA spying, with many arguing that it represents a huge invasion of Americans' privacy. The government has argued that these searches are necessary to prevent terrorist attacks, but critics say they have been misused in the past and could lead to further abuse.
Rudd's vague responses on this issue have raised concerns among privacy advocates, who say his lack of clarity on the matter suggests he may not be committed to upholding Americans' constitutional rights. "Despite Rudd's assurances that he will uphold his constitutional duties as NSA Director, the agency has a long history of violating Americans' privacy and other constitutional rights through sweeping data collection practices," said Hajar Hammado, a senior policy adviser at the left-leaning group Demand Progress.
The nominee's failure to provide clear answers on this issue is not surprising, given that he has limited familiarity with the law governing backdoor searches. Rudd claimed in a written questionnaire that he did not know much about the law, stating that it was an issue he had "limited familiarity within my current role with USINDOPACOM."
As Rudd prepares to face more questioning from lawmakers, his answers will be closely watched by observers and critics alike. His failure to provide clear guidance on how he would use the NSA's spying powers has raised questions about his commitment to upholding Americans' constitutional rights and protecting their privacy.
u guys think Rudd is just gonna wing it as NSA director lol idk man, he cant even answer basic questions about backdoor searches, thats like not knowing how to use the spy tools 
i got no faith in him, he seems like he just doesnt care about americans privacy and rights, its like he thinks the constitution is optional 
NSA spying powers are already a huge invasion of our lives, dont need some general who cant even be bothered to learn about it taking over
and then you got these politicians like senator wyden trying to get some clarity out of them... it's like, come on, dude, can't you see the impact this is gonna have on our lives? 
i mean, it's not like this is a complex topic or anything... Rudd seems like he's just gonna wing it and hope for the best 
but honestly, that's not how you lead a spy agency 
it's time for someone who actually knows what they're doing to take the reins 
He's literally saying he doesn't know much about backdoor searches? 
It's gotta be tough for those Senators trying to grill him, but they need to do it anyway. My question is, what exactly does this guy do know about NSA's powers? Is he just winging it? 
And you know what's wild? The barista told me they source their coffee beans from a small farm in Guatemala. Like, who knew? 
Anyway, back to this NSA stuff... it's crazy how complex these laws are. I had to look up the basics of backdoor searches online just to understand it better. 
And Rudd's like "uh, I don't know much about that"... 
Guess he'll have to learn on the job or something! 
I'm getting a bad vibe from this nominee, you know? 
And he's got to deal with the spying powers of the NSA, which is already super shady. 
How's he supposed to make informed decisions when he doesn't even know what he's dealing with? 
Not good, not good at all. 
I think it's super concerning that Rudd doesn't seem to know much about the backdoor search controversy... like, come on General! You're being asked to lead a agency with massive power over our citizens' private lives and you can't even be bothered to brush up on the basics? 
dude come on general knows nothing about what's going on at NSA 
gotta stay on top of that law, can't be vague when Americans' rights are at stake 
. It's gotta be super concerning for people who care about their privacy. And what's with the lack of clear answers? 
. Can't we at least have some clarity on these things? 
Lt. Gen. Rudd, you better WERK... on understanding the law 
his answers are too vague, it's like he's trying to avoid the question. 
. Privacy is such an important thing, and it seems like Rudd isn't taking it seriously enough. What if he makes things worse? 
I'm all for national security, but we need to find ways to balance that with protecting our citizens' rights. This whole situation just feels really sketchy... 
Need to keep a close eye on this one 
), it makes me super nervous about the future of our country 
. I mean, what if they use those powers to spy on us? 
. I hope Gen Rudd is just being honest and not trying to hide something 
. Can't wait for more confirmation hearings to see how this all plays out 
!