House GOP Pushes FISA Extension, Privacy Reforms

0:00On March 25, House Republicans are showing willingness to strengthen privacy protections for Americans caught up in federal surveillance, but they're insisting on first extending key intelligence powers under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. That provision lets agencies target foreigners overseas and is due to expire on April 20. Lawmakers like Representative Jim Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, reforms such as warrant requirements are still possible. Drawing from bills aimed at better Fourth Amendment safeguards, at the same time, national security takes priority amid global tensions. Critics from both conservatives and civil libertarians have long raised alarms over the program, scooping up Americans' communications without enough. Checks, especially after past FBI misuses during the Russia investigation probe, a government report highlighted those failures, building Republican skepticism. Jordan points out the program has changed a lot with over 50 reforms,

1:02including tighter access rules and audits. Searches on U.S. persons drop sharply, from $3 million in 2021 to just $9,000 last year, while far fewer agents can now query. The database. Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing an 18-month extension without new changes after meetings with GOP colleagues to build support. With opposition from progress is wanting warrants and some conservatives linking it to other issues, plus a slim House majority, the outcome stays up. In the air as the deadline nears.