Why Congress Is Fighting over a Central Tool of American Surveillance

Why Congress is fighting over a central tool of American surveillance

Stay up to date with our Politics newsletter, sent weekly.A key tool of the U.S. spy community will expire this month without action from Congress. The government says the intel gathered through the provision — Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA 702 — underpins a majority of the articles in the president’s daily intelligence briefing and is a key asset in international counterterrorism and the fight against traffic…

Congress Grapples With Spy Law Renewal as Deadline Looms

WASHINGTON—As Congress returns from its Easter break, lawmakers are preparing to navigate the renewal of a controversial surveillance law. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), set to expire on April 20, enables the government to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreign targets outside the United States that are thought to pose a threat to the country. Its defenders, who now include President Donald Trump, say it is…

Why Congress is fighting over a central tool of American surveillance - TPR: The Public's Radio

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is responsible for a huge share of intel collected by the U.S. Lawmakers and civil liberties advocates are worried it enables warrantless spying on U.S. citizens. The post Why Congress is fighting over a central tool of American surveillance appeared first on TPR: The Public's Radio.

Congress Divided Over Renewal of U.S. Surveillance Program as Deadline Nears

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2026 – A federal authority that allows U.S. intelligence officials to spy on the communications of foreign nationals is set to expire April 20.Lawmakers remain divided over whether, and how, to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications from non-U.S. persons located abroad, often with the assistance of American telecom and technology comp…