Politics US & Canada Technology

House extends FISA surveillance powers

House extends FISA surveillance powers

House Speaker Mike Johnson was forced to punt the long-term extension after failing to secure enough support from his own party.

The FISA program, which allows spy agencies to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreigners, has become a major flashpoint for civil liberties advocates.

President Trump and his allies had lobbied for a clean 18-month renewal, but libertarian-leaning members insisted on stricter privacy guardrails.

The Senate must now approve the ten-day extension before the program's current authorization expires at the end of the month.

United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives or Office of the Speaker of the House, Public domain
United States House of Representatives
Lower house of the United States Congress
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
1978 United States federal law
Mike Johnson
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Donald Trump
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
Hakeem Jeffries
American politician (born 1970)