Trump Wants Clean Reauthorization of Surveillance Powers Law, Rep. McClain Says

DORAL, Fla.—President Donald Trump prefers to pass a “clean” reauthorization of a key federal surveillance law before its expiration deadline next month, Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) said on March 11. “What we’ve talked about, and what the president has talked about, is he wants a clean reauthorization,” McClain said in response to a question by The Epoch Times. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allows warrantless surveillance of foreign nationals’ communications, but data and communications of U.S. citizens may also be targeted. Critically, Section 702 is set to expire on April 20. Congress previously reauthorized the statute in April 2024 after a group of 212 Democrats and Republicans voted to amend the law with a requirement for intelligence agencies to obtain a warrant before surveilling Americans’ data....