special access program
(3) Special access program The term “special access program” means any program that, under the authority of Executive Order 12356 (or any successor Executive order), is established by the head of a department or agency whom the President has designated in the Federal Register as an original “secret” or “top secret” classification authority that imposes “need-to-know” controls or access controls beyond those controls normally required (by regulations applicable to such department or agency) for access to information classified as “confidential”, “secret”, or “top secret”.