“Today, we just offered a simple, clean, three-week extension of the FISA national security law. The Democrats, 199 of them, voted against a clean, three-week extension for political purposes.
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Fight Over Clean FISA Section 702 Reauthorization
April 15, 2026
A conservative revolt in the House derailed President Trump's push for a clean 18-month reauthorization of FISA Section 702, the warrantless surveillance authority set to expire April 20. After Speaker Mike Johnson pulled the procedural rule vote on April 15 when it became clear he couldn't hold his caucus, leadership tried again on April 16 — but roughly 20 Republicans joined Democrats in tanking both a 5-year and the 18-month extension. In a chaotic late-night session, the House passed a 10-day stopgap extension through April 30 via voice vote at 2 AM on April 17. Rebels demanded warrant protections for Americans' communications and attachment of the SAVE America Act. Trump called FISA 702 vital for "SUCCESS on the battlefield," while civil-liberties critics from both parties — Raskin, Davidson, Wyden, Massie, Boebert, Luna — argued the administration had dismantled oversight safeguards. The fight resumes before April 30.
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30 Statements
“This administration, this president owns it if 702 goes dark, by throwing a live hand grenade into a controversial bill that was on a path to three years of reauthorization.
“Thank goodness. Clean reauthorization of the unconstitutional FISA 702 program failed in the House.
“Everything that's already been authorized and certified is already in motion, and current FISA authorizations will continue unaffected, at least through March 17, 2027.
“Two things are true. Bill Pulte should not be leading DNI and nobody should vote against FISA because of Bill Pulte. It's the single most important 9/11 commission recommendation that we have, and it's at risk of going dark due to foolishness.
“Congress cannot entrust FISA powers and national security to someone who has never held a security clearance and has already proven himself eager to use his public office in pursuit of the President's political vengeance.
“We must finally fix the fundamental, indefensible flaw at the heart of FISA, warrantless surveillance of American citizens. Congress must enact common-sense guardrails that uphold the Constitution, protecting the American people from abuse by this administration or any future administration.
“Letting 702 lapse is a real gamble that we can't afford to take. Section 702 is our most nimble and effective intelligence collection tool. My Democratic colleagues should recognize that walking away from this deal isn't hurting President Trump — it's hurting the American people.
“A few days from now, on June 12, that program goes dark, and I just think that would be a dangerous mistake for the country.
“We can't give the swamp unchecked power to spy on law-abiding Americans. Warrants MUST be required to protect our constitutional liberties and uphold the Fourth Amendment.
“The timing of this announcement could not be worse. With just over a week until FISA Section 702's authorities expire, this announcement and its timing clearly make passing an extension of FISA much harder.
“FISA 702 reauthorization failed because it did not contain a warrant requirement for spying on Americans. The people who spied on the Trump campaign, Members of Congress, and countless other Americans hate the idea. Come back with warrant requirement, and we'll pass the bill.
“Does anybody think it makes good sense to give them the keys to the 18 intelligence agencies, not just on 702, but across the board? I don't know how — I don't see a path forward, regardless of what I do, on how you convince the necessary Democrats, because listen, there's plenty of Republicans who don't want this renewed.
“We were very close tonight.
“We just defeated Johnson's efforts to sneak through a 5-year FISA authorization tonight. Now, they will have to fight in daylight.
“Are you kidding me? Who the hell is running this place?
“They have to deal with the FISA court's objection to the warrantless searches.
“I will be voting NO on final passage of the FISA 702 Reauthorization Bill if it does not include a warrant provision and other reforms to protect US citizens' right to privacy.
“We feel like we need improvements. Obviously, we want greater protections for citizens with respect to warrants. We want to make sure that there's greater penalties, for example, for government officials who abuse their authority and power.
“The bill before us today leaves the Trump administration in charge of policing its own abuses of this sweeping authority that is going to be unacceptable to the American people who understand how our privacy rights and civil liberties are being trampled every day.
“FISA has been important for our country's national security. We've put some important much needed reforms in place the last time it was up for reauthorization and what President Trump has asked is that now we reauthorize it with those reforms in place. We're having some final conversations. Not all of our members are quite there yet.
“This is a privacy issue. It's a very important tool, don't get me wrong, against terrorists. But you cannot, in my mind, continue to warrantlessly surveil U.S. citizens that don't have an immediate nexus or tie to some terrorists. We'll see... but I don't think the clean extension will pass.
“I'm a NO on FISA as it stands. I'm a NO on the rule for FISA to boot. Swamp isn't happy but that's where I'm at. Pass the SAVE America Act and I MIGHT feel differently.
“It's the position that the speaker used to hold before he became speaker.
“Reauthorizing FISA Section 702 without reforms to protect privacy would be a major disservice to the American people. Promises made must be kept! I was encouraged by discussions tonight, but after a weak path through Rules Committee we shall see…
“The extensive set of 2024 reforms to Section 702 have worked, sharply reducing past FBI abuses.
“The Speaker, who is a very nice man, is completely WRONG on his perspective of a CLEAN FISA Reauthorization WITHOUT SAVE AMERICA ATTACHED. Mike can and SHOULD tell the rules committee to attach SAA to FISA.
“Our Military desperately needs FISA 702, and it is one of the reasons we have had such tremendous SUCCESS on the battlefield, both in Venezuela and Iran. I am asking Republicans to UNIFY, and vote together on the test vote to bring a clean Bill to the floor. We need to stick together when this Bill comes before the House Rules Committee today to keep it CLEAN!
“The plan is to move a clean extension of FISA for at least 18 months. Last time it was up for reauthorization, we instituted 56 substantive reforms to FISA. By every measure and review, those are working just as we planned.
“There are multiple issues related to Section 702 that the American people and many Members of Congress have been left in the dark about, including a FISA Court opinion from last month that found major compliance problems.