House Blocks Extension of Section 702 Spying Powers at a Time of Widespread Concern Over Trump Administration's Crackdown on Privacy and Dissent
WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the House of Representatives failed to advance legislation to extend the nation’s surveillance authorities under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). A 45-day short-term extension Congress passed in May after the Senate blocked a House-passed three-year reauthorization expires on Fri., June 12. The Trump administration has been pressuring Congress to reauthorize this powerful surveillance authority without reforms so it can continue spying on people across the United States.
On Thursday, 19 House Republicans joined 199 Democrats to vote against proceeding to a final vote on legislation extending Section 702 for another three weeks without reforms. After the failed House vote, Republican Senate leadership similarly failed to fast-track another temporary extension.
On Wednesday, Sen. John Cornyn (R–Texas) objected to a proposal from Sen. Ron Wyden (D–Oregon) that would have reauthorized Section 702 for nine months with a warrant requirement, or for another five weeks with transparency reforms.
Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence has raised significant concerns among lawmakers due to his lack of relevant professional experience — and his history of using his access to sensitive information to launch criminal investigations of Trump’s political adversaries.
Civil-society organizations across the country and lawmakers in Congress have fought for popular, bipartisan targeted reforms, including a warrant requirement for searching the 702 database for Americans’ communications data and a prohibition on government agencies purchasing Americans’ information from data brokers. Republican leadership has taken the unprecedented step of preventing votes on amendments that would implement reforms.
Free Press Action Government Relations Director Amanda Beckham said:
“The reality is that we could have had Section 702 reauthorized already. But the Trump administration wants to keep every tool for domestic surveillance in its arsenal, and Republican leadership is doing its bidding.
“Bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize Section 702 while implementing targeted but critical reforms to protect the privacy of people across the United States was introduced months ago. Republican leadership has refused to hold votes on these bills and has also blocked members from voting on amendments to reform Section 702.
“There is still time for Congress to debate the impact of Section 702 on our civil rights and liberties and consider reforms. Even if the law lapses tomorrow, intelligence gathering under Section 702 will still continue through March 2027. If the administration and Republican leadership want to see this reauthorized, then they need to commit to the democratic process. It’s clear that this administration wants to spy on all of us to silence opposition. We’re calling on lawmakers to continue pressing for reforms to protect their constituents against invasive domestic surveillance.”