Key facts
- Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) expired after a House vote failed.
- A short-term extension bill aimed to prolong the law until July 2.
- Democrats opposed the extension, citing objections to Bill Pulte's appointment as acting DNI.
- The House vote failed 198-218, with bipartisan opposition.
- The House is now in recess, leaving the surveillance powers in a legal grey area.
The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass a short-term extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a critical foreign surveillance law, before its scheduled expiration. The vote, which failed 198-218, was blocked by Democrats who objected to President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
Democrats argued that Pulte lacks relevant national security experience and suggested his appointment was motivated by a desire to target political opponents. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders stated they would not approve a 702 extension available to Pulte. House Judiciary Committee Democrat Jamie Raskin criticized the bill's rushed drafting and Pulte's qualifications.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had sought a short-term extension through July 2 to allow more time for debate and reform. However, the need for a two-thirds vote under fast-track procedures proved insurmountable amid the partisan gridlock. Some Republicans also expressed concerns about Pulte's qualifications. The failure of the vote, coupled with the House's departure for a week-long recess, leaves Section 702 poised to expire, potentially creating a legal grey area for U.S. intelligence agencies' ability to conduct foreign surveillance.