Congress Approves 45-Day FISA Extension After Senate Rejects Long-Term Surveillance Program Renewal

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a 45-day clean extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)—the government’s warrantless surveillance authority—after the Senate declined to accept the House’s proposed three-year extension of the program.

While the national security tool will not expire on Thursday night, lawmakers have effectively postponed a contentious decision for another six weeks. A bipartisan group of legislators has insisted on adding warrant requirements to the bill, despite opposition from congressional leadership.

The House vote on the short-term extension passed with a margin of 261-111. The bill now awaits the president’s signature to become law.

Key Developments Leading to the Vote

On Wednesday evening, the House advanced a three-year extension of Section 702. To secure support from conservative holdouts, House Republican leaders included a provision banning a central bank digital currency. However, this addition faced bipartisan opposition in the Senate, prompting lawmakers there to opt for the 45-day patch instead.

Background and Context

This is not the first time Congress has resorted to a short-term solution. Earlier this month, lawmakers passed an initial short-term FISA extension after a faction of House Republicans blocked attempts to renew the program for either five years or 18 months. That initial extension proved insufficient to resolve the dispute, leaving Congress with another tight deadline.

What Happens Next?

With the 45-day extension now in place, congressional leaders must use the additional time to negotiate a permanent or longer-term renewal of Section 702. The impasse remains unresolved, and the stakes are high as the program’s future hangs in the balance.