Surveillance Power Set to Lapse in Fight Over Trump Spy Chief

June 11, 2026, 4:01 PM UTC

Legal authority for US spy agencies’ broadest communications surveillance program is on track to lapse as the fight over President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily place controversial housing official Bill Pulte in charge of the nation’s intelligence apparatus intensified.

The House on Thursday refused to renew provisions of a law granting wide authority to monitor phone, email and other communications to or from foreign persons that will expire Friday. Pulte is scheduled to become the acting director of national intelligence on June 19.

Even if the authority lapses, intelligence agencies can continue to monitor communications until March 2027 because ...

Learn more about Bloomberg Government or Log In to keep reading:

See Breaking News in Context

Providing news, analysis, data and opportunity insights.

Already a subscriber?

Log in to keep reading or access research tools and resources.