On May 26, 2011, US President Barack Obama signed a four-year extension of the Patriot Act minutes before it was set to expire. The US Senate had passed the bill 72-23, and the US House of Representatives passed it shortly thereafter by a vote of 250-153. Controversial programs renewed included provisions allowing the government to use roving wiretaps on multiple carriers and electronic devices and gain access to certain records relevant to its investigations. The Patriot Act was also renewed in 2006 and 2010 after prolonged debate.

Read an overview of The Legacy of 9/11 in Features.