US House Fails to Extend Surveillance Law Amid Controversy Over Intelligence Appointment
The US House of Representatives failed to pass a short-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) on Thursday. The vote, which ended 198-218, was influenced by controversy surrounding President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte, a major Republican donor, lacks national security experience, which has led to significant opposition from Democrats. The failure to extend the law means that section 702 of FISA, which allows US intelligence agencies to intercept foreign communications without a court warrant, will lapse. Despite this, the FISA court has issued a year-long certification authorizing section 702 collection through March 2027, allowing the program to continue temporarily. The deadlock in Congress arose after Democrats withdrew from negotiations following Pulte's appointment, citing concerns over his qualifications and potential misuse of intelligence resources. 
