### Question
How is the "operational files" defined?


### Answer
The term **operational files** is defined in *50 U.S.C. § 3142* as follows -

> files of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (hereafter in this section referred to as "NGA") concerning the activities of NGA that before the establishment of NGA were performed by the National Photographic Interpretation Center of the Central Intelligence Agency (NPIC), that document the means by which foreign intelligence or counterintelligence is collected through scientific and technical systems

#### Citation:
  - *50 U.S.C. § 3142*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 44-NATIONAL SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER V-PROTECTION OF OPERATIONAL FILES**

