Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the House will vote this morning on a short-term extension of the reauthorization of FISA Section 702 at Trump’s request.
The measure would push back the expiration of the spying program’s powers to July 2.
Johnson said yesterday that the bill would be brought up under a procedure that requires a two-thirds majority of the House for passage.
“The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is how we surveil terrorists who are trying to hurt Americans. It is a very important, vital national security tool,” he said.
Johnson said that he spoke to Trump about nominating a director of national intelligence, but that Trump said he was not ready to make a pick just yet. Many Democrats have said they will hold up FISA reauthorization until acting National Intelligence Director Bill Pulte is removed from the post he’s set to take over on June 19.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said he is a “hard no” on the short-term extension bill, pointing to skepticism among national security Democrats about Pulte, who has no experience working in the U.S. intelligence community.
