Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives backed a 10-day extension of a controversial surveillance clause of the FISA Act to prevent it expiring.

House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed a vote to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act while he tries to gather more support.

Donald Trump and his allies had lobbied aggressively all week for a clean renewal of the controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies.

The decision to extend a warrantless security law until 30 April came after 20 Republicans worked with House Democrats to defeat attempts to pass five-year and 18-month renewals

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives backed a 10-day extension of a controversial surveillance clause of the FISA Act to prevent it expiring.

The law allows the U.S. government to surveil people outside the U.S., including when they're communicating with American citizens.

Both Republicans and Democrats are pushing to reform the law, saying it allows "warrantless searches" of Americans' digital communications.

Critics are concerned about its impact on civil liberties.