https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/17/senate-sends-spy-law-extension-to-trump-amid-gop-fight-00878613The Senate Friday passed a short extension of a key government surveillance program ahead of a Monday deadline, after attempts at a long-term renewal failed amid GOP clashes in the House.The Senate agreed in a voice vote to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act until April 30. The measure now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.The drama-free move in the Senate came after the House passed the extension as a hastily assembled Plan B, following a rebellion by GOP hard-liners who opposed a five-year deal that included some smaller changes to the warrantless surveillance law. Conservatives in the House have raised concerns about U.S. citizens being swept up in a program that is targeted at foreign individuals.Even though Congress took steps to avoid a lapse, there’s not yet a clear path to a long-term reauthorization that can win over House and Senate Republicans.Senate Republicans have largely opted to let House Republicans go first and figure out what they can pass.But Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Friday said his chamber could take the lead. He began teeing up a three-year extension of the law, saying Congress needs “optionality.”
>While the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa) went decades without controversy, the 1978 law in recent years has angered lawmakers of both parties over how it handles digital communications.>A part of the law known as Section 702 gives the National Security Agency (NSA) authority to spy on foreigners using data drawn from US digital infrastructure. Critics say the section allows the NSA and agencies it works with, such as the FBI, to mine massive amounts of individuals' information without a warrant.>[...]>Section 702, which was added to the law in 2008, allows the government to collect the communications of noncitizens located outside the US without a search warrant, as well as sweep up data of Americans who are in contact with targeted foreigners, according to CBS News, the BBC's US media partner.>"The US government engages in mass, warrantless surveillance of Americans' and foreigners' phone calls, text messages, emails and other electronic communications," the American Civil Liberties Union has said.>"Information collected under the law without a warrant can be used to prosecute and imprison people, even for crimes that have nothing to do with national security.">National security officials say that Section 702 is vital in the disruption of terrorist plots, foreign espionage, international drug trafficking and cyber intrusion.>Having to go to judges for warrants would slow down their operations and make them less efficient, they have said. They also contend that they often run queries to identify potential victims or to prevent crimes - both of which may not be covered by warrants.>The act was due to expire on Monday, but the lower chamber unanimously voted on Friday to extend it through to 30 April and the Senate voted unanimously to pass the the short-term extension hours later - making way for more negotiations. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckge8zkr0d2o
>>1507285>Conservatives in the House have raised concerns about being swept up in a program that is targeted at Russian corruption.lol, MAGA just needs to stop being corrupt
>The Trump administration has pressured Republicans to accept an 18-month re-authorisation of the law without any changes, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle oppose it because, they say, it amounts to warrantless surveillance of Americans.>Trump has contended that he was "a victim of the worst and most illegal abuse of Fisa" in US history during his 2016 presidential campaign against former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and during his 2020 campaign against President Joe Biden.>However, he has softened his stance this week and called for the bill to be extended without reforms, writing on social media on Tuesday that the US military desperately needed Section 702 to succeed on the battlefield, particularly in the wake of US operations in Venezuela and Iran.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckge8zkr0d2o
>>1507285Section 666 of the Domestic Intelligence Surveillance ActFTFY
