The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a short-term reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) on Thursday morning, prior to a Friday deadline. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced that the proposed extension would last until July 2, following Senate Democrats' rejection of a fast-track measure.
Johnson expressed skepticism regarding the Senate's ability to advance the reauthorization, stating, "We’re not having a great amount of confidence that they’re going to be able to get that done. So, the House will once again do our job." This move comes after President Donald Trump urged Congress to extend the program, emphasizing its importance for national security during upcoming events such as the World Cup and America250 celebrations.
Despite the House's efforts, passing any reauthorization faces challenges in both chambers. Senate Democrats are opposing Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, insisting on his removal before supporting any FISA extension. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) criticized the appointment, stating it undermines the integrity of FISA.
Democratic support is crucial in the Senate to surpass the 60-vote filibuster threshold, while in the House, Johnson's slim GOP majority requires significant Democratic crossover for the measure to pass under a suspension of the rules, which necessitates a two-thirds majority. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has indicated strong opposition to the extension, citing concerns over Pulte's role.
Additionally, conservative members of the GOP are advocating for a warrant requirement to be included in any extension. If the House measure fails, the FISA program is set to expire on June 12, coinciding with the House's recess, which could delay any further action until June 23.