The House decisively rejected a short-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in a bipartisan vote, collapsing hopes for a quick fix. Republicans and nearly all Democrats opposed the temporary measure, leaving the surveillance tool at risk of lapsing for the first time. The current law expires at midnight on Friday.
The collapse of the House vote shifts pressure to the Senate, which may attempt its own stopgap measure later Thursday. But prospects remain dim, with key lawmakers signaling little appetite for a rushed solution. An expiration would halt critical intelligence-gathering authorities used to monitor foreign threats.
FISA, particularly Section 702, allows warrantless surveillance of non-U.S. persons abroad and has been a cornerstone of counterterrorism efforts. Critics argue it lacks adequate privacy protections for Americans whose communications are incidentally collected. The program was last reauthorized in 2018 with modest reforms.
A lapse would freeze ongoing intelligence operations and could force the FBI and NSA to halt certain surveillance activities. National security officials warn this would create dangerous gaps in threat detection. The White House has urged Congress to act before the deadline.
But privacy advocates argue the rejection reflects growing bipartisan concern over warrantless surveillance. "This is a moment for real reform, not a rushed extension," one House Democrat said, though the path forward remains unclear.