---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 1844"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "1844"
heading: "Authorization during time of war"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/1844"
units:
  - "Chapter 36 — Foreign Intelligence Surveillance"
  - "Subchapter III — Pen Registers and Trap and Trace Devices for Foreign Intelligence Purposes"
---

# §1844. Authorization during time of war


Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President, through the [Attorney General](/usc/50/1801.md?p=g), may authorize the use of a [pen register](/usc/50/1841.md?p=2) or [trap and trace device](/usc/50/1841.md?p=2) 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 15 calendar days following a declaration of war by Congress.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–511, title IV, § 404, as added Pub. L. 105–272, title VI, § 601(2), Oct. 20, 1998, 112 Stat. 2408.)