USA PATRIOT Act

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George W. Bush: signing of USA PATRIOT Act

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USA PATRIOT Act

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George W. Bush: signing of USA PATRIOT Act — George W. Bush: signing of USA PATRIOT Act Pres. George W. Bush signing the USA PATRIOT Act in the East Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., October 26, 2001.

USA PATRIOT Act

United States [2001]

Also known as: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001(Show More)

Written by

Brian Duignan

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 17, 2026 •History

USA PATRIOT Act, U.S. legislation, passed by Congress in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and signed into law by Pres. George W. Bush in October 2001, that significantly expanded the search and surveillance powers of federal law-enforcement and intelligence agencies. The USA PATRIOT Act, as amended and reauthorized from 2003, made numerous changes to existing statutes relating to the privacy of telephone and electronic communications, the operation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance...

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