US House will attempt to pass extension of powerful surveillance law
Summary
The US House of Representatives plans to vote on a short-term extension of a surveillance law called FISA, which lets intelligence agencies monitor foreign communications without a court warrant. Democrats oppose the extension because of President Donald Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte, a political donor with little security experience, as acting director of national intelligence.Key Facts
- The House will vote on extending section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) before it expires.
- Section 702 allows US intelligence agencies to collect foreign communications without a court warrant.
- President Trump appointed Bill Pulte, with little national security experience, as acting director of national intelligence.
- Democrats say Pulte’s appointment breaks the law requiring extensive security experience for that role.
- Democrats are blocking FISA’s extension until there are meaningful reforms to the law.
- Republicans seek to pass the extension quickly, needing a two-thirds majority vote, which is unlikely due to Democratic opposition.
- The Senate recently failed to pass a longer extension of FISA, with opposition from most Democrats and some Republicans citing civil liberty concerns.
- Intelligence committees warned the government to prepare for a possible gap in intelligence collection if the law expires.
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