Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

This bill authorizes the funding and operations for U.S. intelligence agencies for the 2022 fiscal year, focusing on strengthening national security against cyberattacks and foreign influence. For the average citizen, the bill includes significant privacy protections by explicitly prohibiting intelligence agencies from collecting or analyzing information on Americans based solely on activities protected by the First Amendment, such as peaceful protests or free speech. Additionally, it improves government transparency and accountability by strengthening protections for whistleblowers and requiring the government to share more data regarding unidentified aerial phenomena (UFOs) with specialized task forces. The legislation also reforms the security clearance process to make it more efficient and fair, including a new appeals process for individuals who are denied access to classified information.