Key facts
- The Senate failed to advance a procedural hurdle for reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
- The vote was blocked by nearly every Senate Democrat and six Senate Republicans.
- The controversy stems from President Trump's pick of Bill Pulte, who currently heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to oversee the nation's intelligence agencies.
- Lawmakers expressed concerns about Pulte's lack of national security experience.
- The deadline to reauthorize FISA is approaching next week.
The Senate failed to advance a procedural hurdle for reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) due to controversy surrounding President Trump's pick for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Bill Pulte. Nearly every Senate Democrat and six Senate Republicans banded together to block the move, complicating efforts to extend the nation's spy powers before the looming deadline. Pulte, who currently serves as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has faced bipartisan backlash over his lack of national security experience and his potential dual role. Senate Majority Leader John Thune argued that Congress "couldn't afford to go dark" and expressed hope for a change of heart from Democrats. However, Senator Mark Warner indicated that Democrats would not support FISA reauthorization with Pulte in charge, citing concerns about his qualifications. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the timing of Pulte's announcement, stating it makes passing an extension much harder. The fight over FISA, particularly Section 702 which allows the government to collect data on foreign nationals abroad but can incidentally collect data on Americans, has led Congress to punt twice on the issue.