House Passes 10-Day Extension of Warrantless Surveillance Law After GOP Split
The House passed a 10-day extension of a surveillance law that lets spy agencies collect Americans' texts and emails without warrants. The vote happened at 2:09 a.m. Friday after libertarian Republicans blocked a longer 18-month extension.
The House passed a 10-day extension of controversial surveillance powers early Friday morning after Republican infighting derailed plans for a longer renewal.
The law in question is Section 702 of FISA, passed in 2008. It allows national security agencies to collect and review texts and emails sent to and from foreigners living outside the country without getting a warrant first. But the system also sweeps up communications from Americans who contact those foreign targets.
GOP leaders originally wanted an 18-month clean extension with no new privacy protections. But libertarian-leaning House Republicans revolted, tanking procedural votes on the measure. They argued the law gives the government too much power to spy on Americans without court oversight.
Faced with the law expiring, House leaders switched tactics. They passed the short 10-day extension by unanimous consent at 2:09 a.m. Friday, buying time for more negotiations.
The brief extension keeps the surveillance program running while Congress fights over reforms. Privacy advocates want stronger protections for Americans caught up in the system, while intelligence agencies warn that changes could hurt national security efforts.
This law affects your privacy rights. Government agencies can read your messages to foreign contacts without getting a judge's permission first. The political fight shows growing concern about surveillance overreach in both parties.
The Senate must approve the 10-day extension. Then Congress has until April 30 to pass a longer-term renewal.
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