Speaker Claims Spy Powers Deal Is ‘Close’ But Hurdles Linger

April 16, 2026, 5:56 PM UTC

House Republicans remain at loggerheads over reauthorizing a key spy powers tool ahead of an April 20 deadline, with lawmakers negotiating possible changes to the program and weighing a short-term patch to avoid its expiration.

The chamber is slated to vote Thursday afternoon on a procedural motion that would allow them to consider an 18-month, clean extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s Section 702, which allows US agencies to collect communications of foreigners overseas. GOP leaders and the White House have advocated for the clean extension, but have been in negotiations throughout the week with conservatives who have demanded ...

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