Congress cannot decide what to do about surveillance without a warrant

The deadline to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is a week from now on June 12th, and lawmakers appear to be no closer to reaching a deal. If this sounds like deja vu, it’s because we’ve been there before. Congress approved Section 702 in late April – but only for 45 days, so that lawmakers can discuss changes to the administration they oppose.

“There were no changes in any of the discussions that took place.” A complete shutdown,” said Sean Vitka, head of Demand Progress, speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, a few hours after the Senate. voted 52 to 47 against a deal that would have reformed Section 702 for three years, which would require sixty votes. Democrats voted against the plan because of President Donald Trump’s announcement Thursday that Bill Pulte — a businessman without a security clearance — would serve as director general of National Intelligence. They were joined by seven Republicans.

As head of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Pulte oversees 18 agencies. In a Friday interview with a Wall Street JournalTrump also said he wanted Pulte to destroy ODNI. “We’ve made the Department of Education very small, and likewise, this should be very small,” Trump said. According to JournalTrump promoted the fire intelligence staff at Pulte who worked under the Obama and Biden administrations.

Opponents of the so-called “sanctuary” expansion of Section 702 – which has not been amended as a legal document for questioning US citizens – have cited Trump’s alleged abuses of his surveillance powers. Pulte’s appointment has only made things easier for the administration, which has been urging Republican lawmakers to reauthorize Section 702 without changes.