Key facts
- President Trump is demanding his SAVE America Act be attached to the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
- This demand has caused significant frustration among Senate Republicans, who were working towards bipartisan passage of FISA.
- The SAVE America Act, requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, has repeatedly failed to gain Senate approval.
- Trump's actions have disrupted efforts to reauthorize Section 702 of FISA, a critical surveillance tool that has now expired.
- Several Republican senators have voiced concerns about the disruptive nature of Trump's tactics and their impact on legislative progress.
President Trump's demand to attach his SAVE America Act to the reauthorization of a key surveillance law has created significant friction with Senate Republicans, jeopardizing bipartisan efforts to pass the intelligence measure.
Many Republican senators wish to reauthorize a lapsed surveillance law, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows intelligence agencies to monitor foreign threats. However, they require Democratic support to overcome a filibuster.
President Trump has twice complicated these efforts. Initially, he named Bill Pulte, a controversial figure with no intelligence experience, as acting director of national intelligence, which drew widespread protest. Trump later nominated Jay Clayton, a more acceptable candidate, but then delayed his confirmation hearing. Hours before the hearing, Trump announced he was delaying Clayton's nomination and would not sign any FISA extension that did not include his SAVE America Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration that has repeatedly failed in the Senate.
This move has led to widespread frustration among Republicans. One senator, speaking anonymously, described Trump's actions as disruptive, stating, "Because we get things on the track, and then you know, somebody throws something off, puts a penny on the track, and derails the train." Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) echoed this sentiment, telling reporters that the president's actions undermine the ability to produce desired results. Tillis cited a similar situation with immigration enforcement funding and the previous disruption to FISA reauthorization.
Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) warned that the continued delay of FISA is dangerous for national security, especially given current global events. He expressed frustration that FISA is now stalled, along with the SAVE America Act, for which there are insufficient votes. Other senators questioned the strategic reasoning behind Trump's decision, with some suggesting it might stem from a lack of trust in Senate leadership or even 'sleep deprivation' during international travel.
While some Republicans blamed Democrats for issues related to nominees, the consensus among many is that any delay on FISA poses a problem. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) stressed the critical need to bring FISA back online without distraction, acknowledging that pairing it with the SAVE Act would likely cause both to fail.