Final answer:
Program XYZ is most likely an Acknowledged Intelligence Special Access Program (SAP), as its existence has been acknowledged through public hearings, despite the details being classified.
Step-by-step explanation:
Program XYZ, which involves the gathering of information regarding active terrorist groups and has been subject to public hearings, would most likely be described as an Acknowledged Intelligence Special Access Program (SAP). Special Access Programs are security protocols that provide classified information on need-to-know bases and are typically divided into acknowledged and unacknowledged programs. Acknowledged SAPs are those whose existence may be publicly known, but the details of the information they contain are still highly classified. This contrasts with Unacknowledged SAPs, which are kept secret and not acknowledged by the government. In the realm of domestic and international surveillance, the Patriot Act significantly broadened the scope of the U.S. government's powers, allowing for more extensive data gathering on individuals suspected of terrorism-related activities. So, while the specific details of Program XYZ are not disclosed, the fact that there are public hearings suggests it is an Acknowledged SAP.