Agency officials say it is complying with the request. Panetta has at the same time ordered a thorough internal review of the program.
The committee will likely focus on how much was spent on the effort, whether any training was conducted and whether any officials traveled in association with the program, a congressional official said. Those factors would determine whether the program had progressed enough to require congressional notification.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, is expected to decide as early as this week whether to press ahead with a full investigation.
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Associated Press writer Pamela Hess reported from Washington and Adam Goldman reported from New York.
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