House Fails to Renew Section 702 as Surveillance Powers Expire at Midnight

The U.S. House did not pass a reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, letting the surveillance authority lapse at midnight. The 218-198 vote split saw 19 Republicans oppose the bill alongside most Democrats, while seven Democrats voted in favor. A key clash centers on Bill Pulte’s appointment as acting Director of National Intelligence, with critics saying he lacks necessary national-security experience, and Democrats seeking a different DNI. Sen. Ron Wyden proposed a five-week extension to pursue reforms, but Republicans rejected it. Even with potential extensions, questions remain about Section 702’s use to surveil Americans and what guardrails will be put in place, underscoring a partisan fight over surveillance oversight as Trump pushes for a more permanent DNI appointment.