House blocks short-term FISA renewal as Section 702 nears lapse
What's next: The Senate may still try a vote, but the surveillance authority expires at midnight Friday if Congress fails to act.
The House on Thursday rejected a short-term extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, putting the overseas surveillance authority on track to expire at midnight Friday. The breakdown came after Democrats refused to back a temporary renewal while President Donald Trump keeps Bill Pulte, a federal housing finance regulator, as acting director of national intelligence. Some Republicans also opposed the stopgap measure. GOP leaders have urged Trump to name a permanent nominee, but he has resisted. A lapse in the law could restrict intelligence collection abroad as World Cup games begin in U.S. cities and before events tied to the country's 250th anniversary.