Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte speaks to the press outside the White House in January. The House just refused to pass a temporary extension of FISA powers after President Donald Trump nominated him to be director of national intelligence. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
June 11 (UPI) -- A bill that would have extended warrantless spy powers rules failed in the House Thursday after Democrats refused to back the measure in retaliation for President Donald Trump's nomination of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
The House is scheduled to leave for recess Friday, and Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is set to expire then, too. The measure was a short-term extension.
The vote failed 198 to 218. Seven Democrats and 19 Republicans voted against it.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said there would be no point in bringing the House back from recess.
