A key provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), used to help prevent terrorist attacks against the United States, will expire tonight after the House of Representatives failed to pass an extension in a 198–218 vote.
Most House members opposed extending the provision until July 2. Nineteen Republicans voted against the measure, arguing it failed to include sufficient reforms to protect Americans' privacy. Meanwhile, many Democrats cited concerns over the recent appointment of Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte, contending that he has no intelligence, national security or even law enforcement experience.
Without FISA, some lawmakers warn that the U.S. could enter a chaotic and unstable period without one of the intelligence community’s most frequently used surveillance authorities. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) said the responsibility for any resulting security gaps will fall on those who voted against the extension.
“And guess who will be to blame if there is a terrorist attack or some other national security incident that could’ve been prevented by FISA 702 collection,” Sen. Cornyn wrote on X. “It makes up 60% of the President’s daily intelligence brief.”
But Democratic members were very vocal about what it would take to consider an extension—removing and replacing Pulte.
Trump pushed back on this earlier in the week, arguing Democrats were taking “National Security hostage because of unrelated issues.” Hours after the vote failed, Trump announced he was nominating Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, for the permanent position.
Although those frustrated by FISA’s failure in the House condemned Democrats for it, several Republican members were also against it.
“Congress cannot keep putting Band-Aids on an open wound,” Representative Keith Self (R-TX) said. “FISA needs real reforms.”
