The short-term extension runs out on April 30.
Last week, Congress extended Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through April 30 after a delayed 2 a.m. vote.
Section 702 of FISA permits the U.S. government to collect from American communications firms the texts, emails, and phone calls of foreigners living overseas without a warrant.
The emergency short-term extension came after President Trump requested a clean extension of the surveillance law. Administration officials have said the tool is vital to protecting U.S. citizens.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus rebelled against Speaker Mike Johnson’s attempt at a clean reauthorization over concerns surrounding Americans’ privacy rights. Caucus members urged amendments to the program, including a requirement for national security agencies to obtain a warrant before searching for data involving Americans.
“We understand and agree with the president that we need 702 authority to go after bad guys abroad,” said Rep. Chip Roy, a Freedom Caucus member representing Texas, in a recent interview. “We’re fighting for greater protections.”
Several Republicans voted against Speaker Johnson’s efforts for a long-term FISA reauthorization before dawn on Friday and settled on a 10-day emergency extension, but the sentiments among the conference remain the same.
A total of 20 Republicans voted with Democrats against the amendment that would extend Section 702 through October of 2027.
Representative Scott Perry (PA-10) was the lone Member from Pennsylvania to cross party lines on the vote, opposing House leadership’s efforts for a clean FISA extension as urged by President Trump and the White House.
The rest of Pennsylvania’s lawmakers in the House of Representatives voted along party lines, with Republicans supporting the clean reauthorization and Democrats voting in opposition.
The emergency extension until April 30 was passed by unanimous consent in the House in the early hours of Friday morning.
The extension was passed in the Senate by voice vote on Friday and President Trump then signed it into law.
Republicans have yet to strike a deal that would allow a longer reauthorization of FISA’s Section 702 to pass the House.
