House Renews Surveillance Program, Senate Next

0:00It's April 29th. This is US News Today, powered by AI bringing you what matters across the U.S. The Republican-led House just greenlit a three-year extension for a key U.S. surveillance program under FISA, set to expire this Friday. It passed with support from both parties, but skips the warrant requirement critics have pushed for, opting instead for extra oversight checks. Earlier this month, multiple attempts to renew it flopped, forcing a short-term patch to April 30th, while leaders scrambled, Trump, along with CIA and FBI heads, initially wanted an 18-month straight re-up with zero tweaks. Lawmakers are split on the program's power to snag foreign intel, which sometimes ropes in American communications without a judge's say-so. Holdouts like Rep Chip Roy slammed it as a fourth amendment threat, while some Democrats called it a blank check with weak breaks, though others, praised it as vital intel gold. The bill ramps up accountability with monthly civil liberties scans, criminal penalties for misuse, a full audit of targeting, and better Congress, access to FISA court docs.

1:05Now it heads to the Senate, where majority leader John Thune Eyes hurdles like a tied-in ban on central bank digital currency. He floated a 60-day bridge as talks drag on, keeping the surveillance machine humming amid the back-and-forth.