Senate Inches Toward Spy Powers Deal as June Deadline Approaches

The leaders of the Senate intelligence panel are working to finish an extension of a controversial spy powers tool to avoid a lapse in law next week, Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Monday.

Congress temporarily extended the government surveillance authorization, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), through June 12 after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement for a longer-term extension in April. The Senate is now working to unveil a bipartisan deal, with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) leading on the talks and working with Democrats in both chambers, as well as Republicans ...