WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill have lobbied President Donald Trump to immediately name a permanent director of national intelligence to make it easier for Congress to renew a key surveillance authority before it expires. But Trump has so far resisted. Trump has instead doubled down on his temporary pick to lead the intelligence agencies, federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, even though he has little experience for the job, and as Democrats are withholding their votes for the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, set to lapse on June 12. On Wednesday, Trump asked for a short-term extension of the law to “provide time for the selection and confirmation of a permanent Head of the Agency.”The impasse could soon result in the U.S. government being limited in what intelligence it can collect abroad just as World Cup games begin in cities around the country and ahead of celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Wednesday that Republican leaders have “made our views known” to the White House about the easiest way to get the bill passed, and “we’re just doing what we can here to ensure that the White House understands what will be necessary in order to make that happen.”
