Congress Extends Surveillance Program, Seeks Reforms

0:00It's April 30, Durham News Today starts now, AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Congress just pulled off a last-second save on a key U.S. surveillance program, approving a short-term extension hours before it was set to expire. Friday. The House shifted to President Trump's desk. Thursday, after the Senate gave it a quick green light, pushing the deadline to June 12. This program, part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, lets agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI grab communications from foreign targets. Without warrants. Without warrants. The big hang-up is it sometimes scoops up Americans' data too, and talks for a full three-year renewal hit a wall over adding warrants for that. Lawmakers on both sides showed some unity, with the Senate passing it unanimously and the House boat landing at 261 to 111, pulling in plenty of Democrats. Even a majority leader, John Thune, admitted he hates delaying, but sees it as the playwright

1:01now, while House Democrat Jamie Raskin hopes it buys time. For real fixes, a few House Republicans, like Thomas Massey from Kentucky, pushback hard, calling any extension a constitutional hit no matter how short. Earlier this week, the House tried a three-year version, but tacked on a ban for central bank digital currency that the Senate shot down flat. Now with breathing room till mid-June, expect Congress and the White House to hammer out reforms for a longer deal that balances spy needs with. Privacy Protections