A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Thursday that aims to strengthen accountability at the National Security Agency by allowing the president to appoint the inspector general (IG).

Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day MORE (R-Maine), Jon Tester Jonathan (Jon) TesterPence seeks to boost Daines in critical Montana Senate race This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans Filibuster fight looms if Democrats retake Senate MORE (D-Mont.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Dan Coats Daniel (Dan) Ray CoatsFBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Former Intel chief had 'deep suspicions' that Putin 'had something on Trump': book MORE (R-Ind.) introduced S. 2439, the NSA Internal Watchdog Act.

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“We must strike the right balance between protecting our national security and protecting our civil liberties,” Tester said. “This bill will ensure those protections while increasing accountability and transparency at the NSA.”

Currently the NSA director hires the IG, but under their bill, it would be a presidentially appointed position that requires Senate confirmation.

“I don’t know how you can be an independent watchdog if you owe your job to the head of the agency,” McCaskill said. “This bipartisan legislation would inject real independent oversight into the agency and help strengthen accountability over its activities.”

The bill also require the IG to conduct annual reviews of whistleblower protections for agency employees, gives the IG subpoena power over employees who have left the agency, and mandates that any IG audit or investigation include an assessment of a program’s effect on civil liberties.

Lawmakers have grown concerned that NSA programs violate constitutional rights to privacy after information was leaked about domestic surveillance.