The Senate failed to pass an extension of a key spy powers tool through a unanimous consent request Thursday after opposition to President Donald Trump’s pick for acting intelligence director derailed the measure.
Congress faces a June 12 deadline to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows US intelligence agencies to collect the communications of foreigners overseas. Intelligence Chairman
The law is now on track to lapse, after the House also voted down a short-term extension earlier Thursday.
“This critical tool is set to go dark on Friday and what the consequences of that will be, we cannot predict,” Majority Leader
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Senators worked on a three-year FISA bill but it was derailed by Trump’s announcement of housing official Bill Pulte as the next acting director of national intelligence. Republican leaders then turned their efforts to a short-term extension, but faced the same roadblocks. Democrats said they wouldn’t support a FISA extension unless Pulte is gone, warning of the potential for him to use his access to sensitive intelligence for political ends.
“There have been a half dozen exit ramps for the White House on this problem, they have chosen not to take them,” said Sen.
Lawmakers warned that not having FISA is dangerous especially ahead of the World Cup and America 250 events, but privacy hawks argue the intelligence community can still use the authority until 2027 because the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court approved certifications.
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