WASHINGTON — The U.S. Congress passed a 10-day extension of a controversial warrantless surveillance program on Friday after attempts to approve a longer reauthorization failed amid divisions in the Republican Party.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved the short-term measure for Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, which was set to expire on Monday. The House acted shortly after 2 a.m. ET by voice vote, and the Senate followed later that morning, also by voice vote, congressional records showed.
The extension pushes the deadline to April 30, giving lawmakers additional time for negotiations on a longer-term renewal. Earlier efforts for a five-year reauthorization and an 18-month extension sought by President Donald Trump did not advance after opposition from some Republicans and Democrats who pushed for privacy protections.
Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency and FBI, to collect communications from foreign targets overseas without a warrant, often from U.S. technology companies. Supporters, including Trump administration officials, have described the program as essential for national security and counterterrorism efforts.
Critics, including civil liberties advocates and some lawmakers from both parties, have raised concerns about incidental collection of Americans' communications and called for reforms such as requiring warrants in certain cases.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said after the votes that the brief extension would allow more time to address differences. “We were very close tonight,” he told reporters, according to multiple accounts.
The House vote came after procedural hurdles blocked longer extensions late Thursday and into Friday morning. About 20 Republicans joined most Democrats in opposing moves toward a clean long-term renewal without changes. Four Democrats supported Republican leadership on one procedural step, according to reports.
The Senate approved the 10-day extension unanimously by voice vote during a rare Friday session.
As of Saturday, the surveillance authority remains in effect under the extension. Details of ongoing negotiations for a permanent or longer reauthorization were not immediately available. Lawmakers from both parties have indicated that talks will continue in the coming days.
No immediate statements were issued by the White House or intelligence agencies on the short-term measure. The program has been renewed multiple times since its creation in 2008, with previous extensions sparking similar debates over balancing security needs and privacy rights.
The situation in Congress remains fluid, with the April 30 deadline now in place for further action on the surveillance law.
