The Operations Section handles NSD’s intelligence operations workload, including representing the government before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.  The mission of the section is to ensure that the FBI and other intelligence community agencies have the legal tools necessary to conduct intelligence operations in adherence to the requirements and safeguards of the law.

The Justice Department is handling more requests for FISA authority than ever before. From 2001 through 2007, the annual number of FISA applications approved by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court rose from 934 to 2,370.  Even with this increased workload, NSD has increased its efficiency in preparing and submitting applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, while ensuring that these applications are accurate and comply with the privacy protections in the FISA statute.  The formation of the Operations Section is necessary to ensure that the National Security Division enhances its capacity to meet the demands of this critical mission.  The section is supervised by a chief who reports directly to Matthew G. Olsen, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Intelligence.