Key U.S. spy powers act set to expire

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - A key U.S. spy powers act is set to expire Friday after House Democrats and some Republicans blocked a short-term extension hours before the deadline.

FISA Section 702 is considered one of the government’s most important intelligence tools. It allows the collection and processing of information that has thwarted terror plots and other threats.

Lawmakers have been facing the looming deadline for months, with positive negotiations giving politicians hope for a bipartisan deal. But President Trump’s appointment of Federal Housing Finance Agency head Bill Pulte as the acting Director of National Intelligence put a stop to any talks, with Democrats vowing to halt any movement on FISA so long as Pulte has the nomination.

Thursday, House Democrats carried through on that promise, overwhelmingly blocking a short-term extension of FISA that would have kept the act going through July 2. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called it a moment that would “live in infamy.”

“Well, I don’t know if the American people just saw what happened on the floor, but it is shameful and it is very, very dangerous,” Johnson said. “The Democrats, 199 of them, voted against a clean three week extension for political purposes, and when the bill went down, they applauded.”

Republicans have cited events such as the FIFA World Cup, upcoming America 250th, and elections as reasons to keep the act in place. But House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said when it comes to Democrats holding the line, they won’t budge until Pulte is out.

“If that happens, we look forward to reopening good faith negotiations, designed to protect the national security of the American people and at the same time strengthen protections related to privacy and civil liberties,” Jeffries said.

The demand is closer to being met, as President Trump Thursday afternoon nominated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton as the new Director of National Intelligence. But with lawmakers leaving town for a week-long recess well past the FISA deadline, Clayton’s nomination may be too little, too late.