Key facts
- Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) expired on June 12.
- House Republicans are attempting to revive the law's warrantless spying powers.
- Democrats are blocking the renewal due to President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
- The House failed to pass a temporary extension of the program.
- President Trump has defended his appointment of Pulte, stating he intends to downsize intelligence agencies.
House Republicans are making a concerted effort to revive the United States' warrantless spying powers under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which expired on June 12. Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders are holding remarks amid the push to reauthorize the controversial program.
The impasse stems from President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence. Democrats, including House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, have stated they will not support the renewal of FISA unless Pulte's appointment is withdrawn and a permanent replacement is nominated. They argue Pulte lacks the necessary national security experience and suggest his elevation is politically motivated.
Republicans have lobbied the White House to nominate a permanent director, but Trump has indicated he needs more time and intends for Pulte to oversee a downsizing of intelligence agencies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed that Republican leaders have communicated their views on the matter to the White House. Despite these efforts, the House failed to pass a short-term extension of FISA on Thursday, leading to a rare lapse in the intelligence-gathering law. The Senate may attempt its own vote, but prospects for preventing an interruption appear dim.
Lawmakers on both sides are assigning blame for the potential disruption. Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, led by Representative Jim Himes, have criticized Pulte's suitability for the acting role, citing his lack of intelligence experience and past actions at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Concerns have also been raised about Pulte's alleged willingness to use government databases to target political opponents, a claim Trump has dismissed as Democrats attempting to "extort" him.