The House rejected a short-term extension of a government spy program set to lapse in just one day. Seven Democrats, including Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), voted for the measure.
The latest failure to pass an extension of the key government spy tool comes after weeks of stalled talks.
Several of the Republican “no” votes stemmed from hardliners who are demanding a warrant requirement for data of U.S. citizens be attached to an extension of Section 702, which allows for the surveillance of foreign nationals abroad without a warrant.
Democrats largely withheld their support for the measure over President Donald Trump’s appointment of top housing official Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, arguing that he is not fit to serve in the position.
“Section 702 is a critical foreign intelligence authority, but we cannot in good conscience vote for reauthorization without significant reforms to protect both national security and the constitutional privacy rights of Americans,” Democratic leaders, including top intel Democrat Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), said in a joint statement ahead of the vote.
