Conservative privacy hawks in the House of Representatives are at odds over renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a crucial government surveillance tool. The renewal of this program, which allows the federal government to surveil non-Americans on foreign soil with suspected terror links without a warrant, is facing opposition from some members of the House.
The debate centers around the inclusion of additional warrant requirements for collecting data of U.S. citizens, a measure that has divided lawmakers. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is under pressure from his right flank for opposing the warrant amendment, which has the potential to jeopardize the renewal of Section 702.
The House is set to consider a Judiciary Committee-backed amendment that would impose warrant requirements for the collection of Americans' data. However, some members, including Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., have expressed concerns that supporting the amendment could hinder the passage of the overall bill.
On the other side of the argument, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., has indicated his opposition to the amendment. The disagreement among House Republicans has raised doubts about the fate of the bill, with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., predicting that the rule vote may be blocked.
Meanwhile, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., has announced his intention to oppose the rule due to the absence of a separate amendment on warrants for the purchase of Americans' data from third-party brokers. The debate highlights the divide between national security hawks, who view Section 702 as a critical tool for preventing terrorist attacks, and critics who seek to limit its scope to protect Americans' privacy.
The Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, a compromise bill aimed at addressing concerns about abuse of Section 702, is facing scrutiny from conservatives who argue that it does not go far enough in safeguarding Americans' private communications. The upcoming vote on the amendment banning warrantless searches of U.S. citizens is expected to be a pivotal moment in the renewal process.
House Republicans are facing a challenging decision as they navigate the complexities of renewing Section 702 before the April 19 deadline. With House Speaker Mike Johnson's stance on the warrant amendment causing division within the party, the outcome of the vote remains uncertain.
