New proposal would continue surveillance authority while mandating review of targeting practices and prohibiting intentional monitoring of U.S. citizens.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
House Republicans have introduced legislation to extend a key federal surveillance authority through 2029, advancing efforts to maintain intelligence-gathering capabilities ahead of an approaching expiration deadline.
The proposal would reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is currently operating under a short-term extension passed on April 17 and set to expire April 30. Lawmakers are seeking a longer-term solution as debate continues over oversight and safeguards.
The bill requires the comptroller general to deliver a report within one year assessing whether current targeting procedures properly limit surveillance activities. The audit findings would be submitted to congressional committees overseeing the judiciary and intelligence functions in both chambers.
In addition to the review requirement, the legislation explicitly bars the intentional targeting of U.S. citizens under Section 702 authority. The provision is intended to reinforce existing legal limits governing the program.
The measure advanced through the House Rules Committee after earlier delays caused by opposition within the Republican conference. Disagreements have centered on whether additional safeguards should be included, particularly regarding the handling of communications involving Americans that are incidentally collected during foreign intelligence operations.
Some lawmakers from both parties have advocated for requiring warrants before querying such data. Others, including Donald Trump, have supported extending the authority without new restrictions.
Trump has described Section 702 as essential for national security operations, citing its role in intelligence collection and military readiness. He has also criticized past applications of surveillance laws, referencing the FBI’s use of FISA authorities during the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into his 2016 campaign.
“I have spoken to many Generals about this, and they consider it VITAL. Not one said, even tacitly, that they can do without it—especially right now with our brilliant Military Operation in Iran,” Trump said.
The authority allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications of non-U.S. persons located abroad without a warrant, though it can also capture communications involving Americans. Oversight and compliance measures have been the focus of ongoing legislative debate.
In April 2024, Congress approved a two-year extension of Section 702 that included 56 reforms designed to limit misuse. Those changes introduced stricter access controls, additional training requirements, and higher-level approvals for certain queries, along with penalties for intentional violations.
A review by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General previously identified more than 60,000 instances of noncompliant queries of Section 702 data by the FBI in 2021.
Lawmakers are now weighing whether to adopt the new House proposal or pursue alternative approaches before the current extension expires at the end of the month.