Senate vote to extend FISA stalls after Trump taps Pulte for DNI

The Senate failed early Friday to clear a procedural step for renewing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after Democrats and six Republicans blocked the measure. The setback leaves Congress scrambling before key surveillance authorities expire next week. The dispute centered on President Donald Trump’s decision to pick Bill Pulte, now head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to oversee U.S. intelligence agencies as director of national intelligence. Democrats argued they could not back a FISA extension with Pulte in line for the job, and some Republicans also questioned his lack of intelligence experience. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the chamber would revisit the issue when senators return next week.