Johnson meets Trump as surveillance law renewal faces hurdles

The renewal effort faced a significant setback when it stalled in the Senate, with a bipartisan group of lawmakers voting against bringing it to debate. This legislative hurdle is exacerbated by President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte, a mortgage regulator, as the acting director of national intelligence. Lawmakers have voiced worries that Pulte, who previously accessed confidential data to investigate individuals perceived as Trump's foes, might misuse his authority to target political adversaries.

Section 702 of FISA permits U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor the communications of foreigners located outside the United States without requiring individual judicial warrants. The controversy surrounding Pulte's appointment has amplified opposition to the law's renewal, particularly among Republicans who narrowly control both chambers of Congress. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise indicated that Johnson's meeting with Trump was intended to finalize an agreement on FISA.