WASHINGTON, D.C. – The President’s pick to lead US intelligence agencies has complicated Congress’ chances of reauthorizing a spy program. Members on the Intelligence Committee said it’s a necessary program to protect national security but it’s unclear if Senate leadership will get enough support to reauthorize the program before it expires in a few days.
It’s known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The Office of the Director of National Intelligence explains that this Section of FISA collects intelligence, like phone calls, texts, emails, and other information of non-Americans who are outside of the United States. The ACLU claims that Americans’ info is also gathered under this program. They add “information collected under the law without a warrant can be used to prosecute and imprison people, even for crimes that have nothing to do with national security”. The ACLU also shares with our country’s history of surveillance and secrecy surrounding the program, they are concerned this section is and will be used to disproportionally target disfavored groups, minority communities, political activists, or even journalists.
Some congressional privacy hawks have aired their concerns about the program. Senator Mark Warner (D- VA), the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said it’s a necessary program that needs reforms.
Last week the Senate had a chance to pass an extension of the section but fell short. Some said it’s because of the President’s decision to name Bill Pulte, a Trump ally with no national security experience, to be the acting Director of National Intelligence.
“Pulte has a record of abusing his office to attack Trump’s political enemies,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer last week following the announcement. “The timing of this announcement could not be worse.”
A handful of Republicans did not support the FISA reauthorization. Republican Senators Tom Cotton (R- AR) and Chuck Grassley (R- IA), chairs of Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees, sent a letter to the Secretary of State on FISA. They told the Secretary they should “plan for a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection.”
