The deadline for Congress to extend a key government spy program passed at midnight after Democrats and Republicans failed to strike a deal to reauthorize the tool.Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows surveillance of foreign nationals abroad without a warrant, which proponents of the program argue is critical for national security. It is the first lapse in the program since it was enacted by Congress in 2008. Talks between Republicans and Democrats regarding extending the spy program blew up as a result of President Donald Trump’s appointment of top housing official Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte is set to take over the agency from outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard on June 19, with the Senate processing the president’s nomination of U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton starting next week.
However, while Trump’s nomination of Clayton has been more warmly received, Democrats are demanding that Pulte not take over as acting DNI, arguing he is not qualified to do so, before they pass any extension of the surveillance tool. Trump has refused to back down from his interim pick of Pulte.
The partisan impasse over Pulte comes on top of intraparty divisions amongst Republicans over the spy tool’s authorities, with hard-line conservatives demanding reforms and a warrant requirement for U.S. citizens’ data to be attached.
