Friend, I accept that there is a level of snark, when it comes to this stuff, but even rudimentary check of the website in question[1] will tell you that there are two pieces to this program:

- ACTIVE SOCIAL ENGINEERING DEFENSE (ASED) - LARGE SCALE SOCIAL DECEPTION (LSD)

I presume you are being snarky about ASED. I was thinking about the other one.

https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_FA865018C7886_970...

That's defense of the government apparatus in the same sense as “Continuity Of Government” — not defense of constituents themselves.

Was the Patriot Act patriotic?

Right, just like the DoD is "defending" us.