UMVA has learned that a dramatic showdown in the Senate has stalled efforts to extend the nation's spy powers, amid fierce opposition to President Trump's pick to lead the nation's intelligence agencies.
In a stunning rebuke, nearly every Senate Democrat and six Senate Republicans joined forces to block a procedural hurdle to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in the early hours of Friday morning. This development comes as the deadline to act on the spy powers rapidly approaches.
The vote was marred by Trump's contentious pick to oversee the nation's intelligence agencies as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Bill Pulte. Senate Majority Leader John Thune argued that Congress couldn't "afford to go dark" by not reauthorizing FISA, but his hopes for a bipartisan vote were dashed.
Thune now faces a tough road ahead, as he'll need Democratic support to reauthorize FISA, given Republican opposition to the program. "We need some help from Democrats, obviously, and I think it's a terrible, irresponsible position that they've taken," Thune said.
Pulte's appointment has sparked outrage among Democrats and confusion among Republicans, with many questioning his lack of experience in the intelligence field. As DNI, he'd be tasked with overseeing the country's 18 intelligence agencies.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, warned that Democrats wouldn't support reauthorizing FISA under Pulte's leadership. "I don't see how you get the necessary Democrat votes… that would get them to 60," Warner said.
The controversy surrounding Pulte's appointment has raised concerns about the nation's ability to gather intelligence and protect its security. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer charged that Trump's move to pick Pulte "appears to have been a hastily considered backroom deal based on loyalty to Trump, not the security of our nation."
The timing of Pulte's appointment has also sparked concerns, with Schumer noting that it "could not be worse, with just over a week until FISA 702 authorities expire." The fight over FISA has become a rare bipartisan issue, with Democrats and conservatives pushing for stronger privacy protections.
The spy law fight centers on Section 702, which allows the government to spy on foreign nationals abroad, but also raises concerns about data collection on American citizens. With tensions running high, Senate Republican leadership hopes to complete their bipartisan bill and send it to the House before the June 12 deadline.
