Section 702, a major U.S. surveillance authority used to collect foreign intelligence, is set to lapse after Congress failed to pass an extension. Lawmakers disagree over whether existing court approvals will keep the program operating without interruption.
Posts tagged as “John Thune”
The House is set to vote on a short-term extension of Section 702, but Democratic opposition over Bill Pulte’s appointment as acting intelligence chief could doom the measure. Lawmakers remain divided over civil liberties, national security and what happens if the authority expires Friday.
President Trump signed the Secure America Act, a nearly $70 billion package funding ICE, Customs and Border Protection and other Homeland Security operations through the rest of his presidency. The bill passed narrowly after months of Democratic opposition and internal Republican disputes.
Trump said Bill Pulte will become acting director of national intelligence on June 19 while remaining head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The decision has sparked bipartisan concern and threatened renewal of Section 702, a surveillance authority set to expire Friday.
A push to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has stalled after President Trump named Bill Pulte acting director of national intelligence. Democrats and some Republicans say Pulte lacks the qualifications for the role and are pressing for a permanent nominee.
Senate Republicans passed nearly $70 billion in immigration enforcement funding after an 18-hour overnight vote. The bill now heads to the House as lawmakers continue to clash over a proposed $1.8 billion fund for people claiming political targeting by the government.
The Senate passed a $70 billion bill to fund ICE and the Border Patrol through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. The measure advanced without limits on a disputed $1.776 billion settlement fund that drew bipartisan objections.
Senate Republicans defeated a Democratic amendment to permanently bar President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” settlement fund. The vote came during debate over a $70 billion immigration-enforcement funding bill.