---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 1811"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "1811"
heading: "Authorization during time of war"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/1811"
units:
  - "Chapter 36 — Foreign Intelligence Surveillance"
  - "Subchapter I — Electronic Surveillance"
---

# §1811. Authorization during time of war


Notwithstanding any other law, the President, through the [Attorney General](/usc/50/1801.md?p=g), may authorize [electronic surveillance](/usc/50/1801.md?p=f) without a [court](/usc/50/1881.md?p=b-2) order under this subchapter to acquire [foreign intelligence information](/usc/50/1801.md?p=e) for a period not to exceed fifteen calendar days following a declaration of war by the Congress.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–511, title I, § 111, Oct. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 1796.)