Two U.S. senators say the Trump administration is breaking the law. They accuse it of withholding a secret FISA court ruling from Congress. The ruling concerns how the government spies on Americans.
The dispute comes as Congress weighs whether to renew a major surveillance program. The administration is pressing lawmakers to extend it. Senators argue that hiding the court decision undermines that debate.
The FISA court oversees requests for surveillance warrants against suspected foreign agents. Its proceedings are secret by design. But lawmakers on intelligence and judiciary committees typically receive notice of significant rulings.
According to the senators, the administration has declined to share the decision with the relevant committees. They say that refusal violates legal requirements for congressional notification. The exact contents of the ruling remain unknown to the public.
The surveillance program at issue is among the broadest tools available to U.S. intelligence agencies. It allows collection of communications involving foreign targets. Americans’ messages can be swept up incidentally in that collection.
Critics have long argued the program lacks sufficient oversight. Supporters say it is essential for national security and includes safeguards. Renewal deadlines have repeatedly forced Congress to confront the tradeoff.
The senators are demanding the administration release the ruling to the committees. They say lawmakers cannot responsibly vote on renewal without it. The White House has not publicly addressed the specific allegation.
