US surveillance law to expire for first time after lawmakers reject Trump’s controversial pick to lead spy agencies

For the first time in history, the U.S. government's warrant-less surveillance law is set to expire, following the House of Representatives' failure to renew it before the Friday deadline. The vote concluded with a 218-198 decision against the bill, which required a two-thirds majority to pass. Notably, 19 Republican representatives joined Democrats in opposing the legislation, reflecting growing discontent over the appointment of a controversial figure connected to former President Trump to lead U.S. intelligence agencies. The law in question, known as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), has granted U.S. intelligence agencies extensive authority to gather information, including data on American citizens, in efforts to identify foreign threats such as hackers and terrorists. With its expiration, a significant tool for national security, long deemed critical by both major parties, will lapse. Despite bipartisan agreement on the necessity of reform, lawmakers have struggled to reach a consensus on how to amend the law, focusing on proposals that would require court-approved warrants for accessing Americans' private communications. Tensions escalated last week when Trump appointed Bill Pulte as the acting U.S. director of national intelligence, a move that raised alarms among lawmakers concerned about the potential misuse of intelligence powers against political adversaries. Critics highlighted Pulte's lack of experience in national security, suggesting his appointment posed a greater risk to national security than allowing the law to expire. In response to the backlash, the administration withdrew Pulte's nomination just days later, replacing him with Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former head of the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, by that time, many lawmakers had left Washington for a recess, diminishing the chances of a last-minute resolution regarding FISA. FISA's Section 702 first gained notoriety during a 2013 surveillance scandal involving the National Security Agency (NSA), exposed by whistleblower Edward Snowden. The revelations detailed extensive U.S. surveillance operations, including the collection of communications from American citizens, which raised serious constitutional concerns. Despite the law's impending expiration, the government will still retain surveillance capabilities under existing approvals until March 2027. However, the potential reluctance of telecommunications companies to share customer data without a clear legal framework could hinder operations. Additionally, the government maintains other surveillance options under Executive Order 12333, which grants broad powers for global surveillance. As discussions about FISA continue, lawmakers, including Senator Ron Wyden, have raised alarms about ongoing abuses of surveillance powers and the implications for Americans' constitutional rights.