UMVA has learned that a critical U.S. surveillance program is on the verge of expiring after a bitter standoff between House Democrats and a group of conservatives blocked a temporary extension.
The program, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), was set to expire on Saturday at 12:01 a.m., leaving lawmakers scrambling to find a solution. The failure to extend the program has raised concerns about the country's national security, with Republicans warning that it would leave the United States uniquely vulnerable.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the standoff began when House Democrats refused to support a short-term extension of the program unless President Donald Trump's pick for acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte, was reversed. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had warned that he would withhold support for extending the program until Trump reversed his decision.
The House voted 198-218 on Thursday to extend Section 702 for three weeks, but the measure fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage. Seven Democrats and 19 Republicans voted against the measure, citing concerns over privacy guardrails and the qualifications of Pulte for the top intelligence post.
The failed vote was a significant setback for Trump, who had urged lawmakers to reauthorize the program ahead of the June 12 deadline with no modifications. Democrats and some Republicans have argued that Pulte is unqualified for the top intelligence post, citing his background as a senior housing official.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that tensions have erupted in the lower chamber, with little time to act before the law expires. House Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford warned that letting the spy law sunset would leave the United States vulnerable, particularly with the World Cup underway and the war with Iran ongoing.
Crawford argued that Democrats are putting the country at a grave security risk by failing to extend the program into July. "45 countries descend upon the United States for World Cup games, which just so happens to be the week that Democrats have actively chosen to disallow this critical national security tool from being renewed to allow it to go dark," he said.
The Section 702 program allows the U.S. government to collect intelligence on foreigners abroad who are using U.S. communication systems. It also allows the government to sweep up the messages of Americans when communicating with foreign suspects, provoking concerns among privacy hawks.
Despite Republican warnings, some Democrats have argued that the risks are overstated and that existing law allows Section 702 collection to continue under an order from the FISA court for another year. However, GOP lawmakers have warned that allowing the government's warrantless surveillance powers to sunset entails substantial risk, including potential legal challenges.
As the clock ticks down, lawmakers are under pressure to find a solution before the program expires. The implications of inaction are unclear, but one thing is certain - the country's national security hangs in the balance.
