The Senate on Friday blocked an extension of a key warrantless surveillance program used by U.S. intelligence agencies. Without further action, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will expire on June 12.
According to CBS News, seven Republicans crossed party lines to vote with Democrats in a 47-52 vote against a procedural motion that would have set up a final vote on the extension next week. The seven Republicans were Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Rick Scott of Florida, John Kennedy of Louisiana, and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat who voted to move ahead with the reauthorization.
A central objection from the Republicans who blocked the vote is that the law can be used to spy on Americans without a warrant. Lee posted on X: "No warrant to protect Americans? No FISA."
The vote also came amid concerns over President Trump's controversial pick of federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte has drawn pushback from both Democrats and Republicans over his lack of experience and past controversies.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate "will take another run at it" next week but called Democrats' opposition a "terribly irresponsible position," even as some conservatives in his own conference voted against the motion. "The naming of Pulte to that position, although the timing arguably wasn't the best, I still don't think it ought to derail something that's this important," Thune said.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, had worked on negotiations for the bill but ultimately voted against it. He said he and committee Chair Sen. Tom Cotton had reached what he described as a "compromise" on a "strong bill," but that the "complete irresponsibility of putting forward" Pulte had changed the equation.
Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, a longtime critic of the surveillance program, called the bipartisan vote proof that reform efforts cross party lines. "It's a message that Americans aren't going to stand for law-abiding people being spied on," Wyden told The Associated Press.
Section 702 allows agencies including the CIA, the National Security Agency, and the FBI to collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant. Critics have long argued the program incidentally sweeps up Americans' communications. Republican leaders had only been able to pass short-term extensions while negotiations over a potential warrant requirement continued.
Thune said the Senate would attempt another vote next week. No specific date has been announced.
