House GOP rebellion derails FISA renewal

Kate Santaliz

A man in a dark suit and blue striped tie, wearing round tortoiseshell glasses and a gold lapel pin; he has a serious expression in an indoor setting with a blurred person behind him. — Speaker Johnson at the Capitol on April 14. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

The House voted overnight to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for two weeks after a bloc of 20 Republicans derailed a longer-term renewal.

Why it matters: The revolt is a significant setback for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and the White House, who both pushed for a clean long-term extension of the surveillance authority.

The House agreed by unanimous consent to extend FISA until April 30 after a group of Republicans blocked attempts to pass five-year and 18-month renewals of the program.
The short-term patch was a last-resort option for GOP leadership, who couldn't muscle the longer extension despite an aggressive whip effort.
The program is set to lapse Monday.

Driving the news: Johnson was trying to pass a five-year extension of the national security tool with reforms after postponing an initial vote Wednesday.

The deal that came after days of intense negotiations included warrant requirements, and other measures aimed at addressing privacy concerns.
But a broad coalition of Republicans voted down the rule, preventing the bill from advancing and forcing leadership to pivot.
Opposition came from both conservatives and Republicans who favored a clean extension.

What's next: The measure now heads to the Senate with little time to spare before the program expires.

• GOP leaders are hoping to use the next two weeks to hammer out a deal.

Add Axios on Google

House GOP rebellion derails FISA renewal

What to read next