The House of Representatives defeated a bill on Thursday that would have temporarily extended a key surveillance authority, raising the likelihood that the law will expire this weekend. The measure failed to secure the two-thirds majority required for passage under expedited procedures.
The legislation sought to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which is set to expire on Saturday. Section 702 allows the government to collect communications of foreign nationals located outside the United States without a warrant.
Opposition came from both sides of the aisle. Some lawmakers expressed concerns about privacy and civil liberties, while others argued the bill did not go far enough to reform the surveillance program.
Intelligence officials had urged Congress to renew the authority, warning that its expiration would hinder efforts to track foreign threats, including terrorism and cyberattacks. The program is considered a critical tool by national security agencies.
Without congressional action, the surveillance power will lapse, forcing intelligence agencies to rely on older, more cumbersome legal authorities. This could disrupt ongoing investigations and data collection operations.
House leaders now face limited options to prevent the expiration. They could bring a new version of the bill to the floor under regular rules, requiring only a simple majority, but time is running short before the deadline.
The failure to pass the extension marks a significant setback for the Biden administration and intelligence community, which had prioritized the renewal. The outcome reflects ongoing tensions over the balance between national security and individual privacy.
