Lawmakers approve short-term surveillance renewal in overnight vote as divisions stall broader reauthorization efforts.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The House of Representatives approved a 10-day extension of a key federal surveillance authority early Friday, following a series of failed votes and internal divisions among Republicans that blocked longer-term renewal efforts.
The temporary measure extends Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act through April 30, allowing intelligence agencies to continue operating the program as Congress works toward a broader agreement. The extension passed shortly after 2 a.m. via voice vote, without a recorded roll call, after earlier proposals collapsed.
House leadership had initially pushed for a five-year extension that included revisions aimed at addressing privacy concerns. When that effort failed, lawmakers attempted to advance an 18-month renewal aligned with the position of Donald Trump and backed by Speaker Mike Johnson. Both proposals were blocked after approximately 20 Republicans joined most Democrats in opposition.
“We were very close tonight,” Johnson said following the late-night proceedings.
The legislative standoff unfolded during a rare overnight session, with GOP leaders calling lawmakers back to the chamber Thursday evening in an effort to prevent the program from expiring. After multiple failed votes and closed-door negotiations, lawmakers agreed to the short-term extension as a stopgap measure.
Democratic lawmakers criticized the process. During floor debate, Rep. Jim McGovern said, “Are you kidding me? Who the hell is running this place?” referring to the timing and handling of the votes.
At the center of the dispute is Section 702, which authorizes U.S. intelligence agencies—including the CIA, NSA, and FBI—to collect communications of foreign targets located outside the United States without a warrant. The program can also capture communications involving Americans who interact with those foreign targets.
National security officials have argued that the authority is essential for identifying threats such as terrorism, cyberattacks, and espionage. However, the program has faced criticism over past misuse. A 2024 court order found that FBI personnel had violated internal standards when querying intelligence data related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and 2020 racial justice protests.
Throughout the week, Trump and his allies had urged Republicans to support a clean reauthorization without significant changes. In a message posted publicly, he called on party members to unify behind advancing the legislation.
Negotiations involved senior administration officials and congressional leadership. CIA Director John Ratcliffe engaged directly with lawmakers, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said discussions with the White House and members had continued “late into the night.”
The revised five-year proposal included provisions aimed at strengthening oversight, such as requiring FBI attorneys to approve searches involving U.S. persons and mandating additional review by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Despite these changes, the proposal failed to gain sufficient support.
Rep. Ro Khanna said after the vote, “We just defeated Johnson’s efforts to sneak through a 5-year FISA authorization tonight. Now, they will have to fight in daylight.”
With the short-term extension now approved by the House, the measure moves to the Senate, which convened for a rare Friday session to consider the legislation before the program’s expiration deadline. Lawmakers are expected to continue negotiations over a longer-term reauthorization in the coming days.