Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson made changes to a bill in order to win over Republican holdouts. The bill aimed to renew the government’s surveillance powers and faced uncertainty after Wednesday’s vote. Mr. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, proposed an updated version of the bill that governs the monitoring of communications of foreigners abroad, which can also capture Americans’ data.
The updated bill includes a shorter reauthorization period of two years, down from the previous five years, and allows for an amendment vote to add a warrant requirement to FBI searches for Americans’ data. If Congress does not take action, the surveillance powers under Section 702 are set to expire on April 19.
Speaker Mike Johnson retools FISA renewal, tees up Friday votehttps://t.co/Dydm8ANsdT pic.twitter.com/OaC0ofXRKf
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 12, 2024
The bill was under review on Thursday, and a vote to advance the legislation was scheduled for Friday. The Republican lawmakers who initially blocked the bill indicated that the shorter reauthorization period was an encouraging factor for their support, especially with the possibility of former President Donald Trump returning to the White House.
However, the two-year sunset on the law raised concerns among national security advocates who believe it could move toward the warrant requirement, potentially affecting intelligence gathering on terrorist activities and other threats.
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has been a contentious issue since its inception in 2007, with Congress requiring periodic renewal to prompt ongoing discussion about its effectiveness. The recent debate has been influenced by the FBI’s use of FISA in the 2016 targeting of the Trump campaign, though much of that surveillance did not rely on Section 702.
Former President Donald Trump urged Republicans to oppose the reauthorization bill, citing a report by the Justice Department inspector general that identified multiple errors by the FBI in its application for FISA surveillance.
During a House panel testimony, FBI Director Christopher Wray maintained that the bureau had addressed issues with its FISA activities and was adhering to the law. He warned about the potential vulnerability of the United States if Section 702 were to lapse, emphasizing the importance of monitoring adversaries and threats.
The bill’s progress will have widespread implications, shaping the balance between national security and privacy concerns.
