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Monday, Jan 19, 2026
Outside the box.
US House Renews Controversial Spying Program Section 702, Overriding Trump's Objections and Calls for Warrant Requirement
The US House of Representatives reauthorized Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on American citizens' internet and phone communications made through foreign networks but using US-based companies like Google, despite opposition from former President Trump and some pro-Trump Republicans.
The act was first drafted in 2008 and grants US intelligence agencies the power to monitor such communications without a warrant.
The FBI's Section 702 program, intended for targeting foreigners, collected data from 3.4 million Americans in 2021 without a court warrant.
Republican lawmakers blocked a vote to renew the program, with former President Trump urging them to do so due to concerns about FBI spying on his campaign.
On Friday, the lawmakers agreed to allow a vote if funding was reduced from five to two years and a warrant requirement was added for American data use.
An amendment aimed at ending warrantless wiretapping of American citizens received an equal number of votes for and against (212 each) in the Senate.
However, Vice President Mike Pence, acting as President Trump's tie-breaking vote, defeated the amendment, allowing the wiretapping to continue.
This decision angered some of Trump's Capitol Hill allies.
The FBI's Section 702 program, intended for targeting foreigners, collected data from 3.4 million Americans in 2021 without a court warrant.
Republican lawmakers blocked a vote to renew the program, with former President Trump urging them to do so due to concerns about FBI spying on his campaign.
On Friday, the lawmakers agreed to allow a vote if funding was reduced from five to two years and a warrant requirement was added for American data use.
An amendment aimed at ending warrantless wiretapping of American citizens received an equal number of votes for and against (212 each) in the Senate.
However, Vice President Mike Pence, acting as President Trump's tie-breaking vote, defeated the amendment, allowing the wiretapping to continue.
This decision angered some of Trump's Capitol Hill allies.
