Since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, money has poured into national security projects. What is being called a fourth branch of government has emerged but it has been hidden from public scrutiny by extraordinary secrecy.

Top Secret America is the result of nearly two years of exhaustive research by Washington Post reporters Dana Priest and William Arkin. The project includes articles, interactive maps, graphics and databases, information on companies involved with Top Secret America, and much more. A short introductory video accompanies the project as well as a seven-minute overview that serves double-duty for an upcoming Frontline segment. Other videos examine details of the report – for example, “Help Wanted: Professionals with security clearances” by Whitney Shefte is a three-minute look at the complexities and illogic of the government’s hiring system.

The report reveals hundreds of departments and agencies operating out of 1,300 facilities around the nation and the fact that nearly one million Americans have top-secret security clearances. The result is an enterprise so massive that nobody has a full understanding of it and whether is it actually fulfilling its said purpose of keeping U.S. citizens safe.

CHANNEL: Washington Post

Length: 7:25

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Top Secret America project