Post by Electronic Privacy Information Center

This morning, the U.S. House failed to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, all but ensuring the law will lapse on Friday night for the first time since its passage in 2008. But the fight to reform the government’s sweeping surveillance program is far from over. EPIC continues to urge Congress not to proceed with FISA reauthorization without critical reforms. Despite claims to the contrary, the government will continue to be able to perform foreign surveillance under Section 702 through March 2027 regardless of whether the statute expires tomorrow. That reality makes reauthorization without reform a clear no. EPIC is calling for reforms to protect the public against the well-documented abuses of the FISA program, such as requiring a warrant for U.S. person queries, closing the data broker loophole, and strengthening oversight. Bill Pulte's appointment as Acting Director of National Intelligence only highlights the significant dangers of unchecked surveillance power. Lawmakers must do more than just blocking his nomination to meaningfully protect Americans from continued warrantless surveillance and government abuse. We urge Congress to push for both substantive reforms of the FISA program and the removal of Bill Pulte’s appointment as the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Now is the time to finally protect the public from FISA’s sweeping, unchecked surveillance tools.