House Extends Surveillance Powers for 10 Days After Trump-Backed Plans Fail
The House approved a 10-day extension of government surveillance powers until April 30 after a late-night vote around 2 a.m. Earlier attempts to renew the program for 18 months or five years both failed when about 20 Republicans joined Democrats to block them.
The House approved a short-term extension of controversial surveillance powers until April 30 after Republican leaders failed to pass longer renewals. The vote happened around 2 a.m. and passed on a voice vote without a formal roll call.
Earlier in the day, GOP leaders tried to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for either five years or 18 months as President Trump had demanded. Both attempts failed when about 20 Republicans joined most Democrats to block the measures.
Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect foreign communications that pass through American internet and phone systems. Critics worry it sweeps up too much data from American citizens without warrants.
The program was set to expire, forcing lawmakers into the emergency extension. Congress has been fighting over how long to renew these powers and whether to add new privacy protections for Americans.
This surveillance program lets U.S. spy agencies monitor foreign communications that might pass through American systems. The short extension means Congress will face the same fight again in two weeks, with your privacy and national security hanging in the balance.
Congress faces the same renewal fight again by April 30. Watch for negotiations on privacy reforms and renewal length.
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