Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he will not allow amendments to a surveillance bill, arguing that any changes could derail its renewal ahead of a looming deadline.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows intelligence agencies to collect communications of foreign targets abroad, is set to expire on April 20, resulting in a congressional scramble to pass the controversial measure.
“It’s going to be a clean extension,” Johnson said on Tuesday. “If we put amendments on it, it jeopardizes its passage, and it’s far too important.”
Johnson is aiming to move an 18-month extension through the House Rules Committee on Tuesday afternoon, with a floor vote later this week.
The push comes with strong backing from President Donald Trump, who has pressed lawmakers for months to renew the program.
In a Monday letter to the committees on intelligence, armed services, defense appropriations, and the judiciary in both chambers, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine warned that failing to extend the authority would jeopardize U.S. security.
“The loss or reduction of FISA section 702 authorities would increase risk to the Joint Force, degrade our worldwide combat lethality, and significantly impair U.S. security,” Cain wrote in a letter obtained by Politico.
Still, the proposal faces resistance from lawmakers in both parties who argue the law lacks sufficient safeguards for Americans’ privacy.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced an amendment Monday to shorten the extension to one year, after previously pushing an amendment that would require warrants for searching Americans’ communications.
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Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) said the law was “stretched far beyond its original purpose,” citing concerts over warrantless searches.
On the Democrats’ side, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) warned that Congress “should not reauthorize broad domestic surveillance authorities without putting meaningful safeguards in place.” She called for reforms that would balance national security tools while preventing abuse.