Trump Faces GOP Pressure on Bill Pulte as FISA Renewal Nears Expiration
House and Senate Republicans are increasingly hoping President Donald Trump backs away from Bill Pulte’s appointment as acting Director of National Intelligence as Congress struggles to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The surveillance authority, commonly known as FISA Section 702, allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications involving foreign targets overseas without a warrant. Supporters argue it is a critical national security tool, while critics cite past incidents in which Americans’ communications were swept into intelligence databases.
Subscribe free for daily political analysis they won’t broadcast. Join 110K+ readers →
The political fight intensified after Trump selected Pulte, who currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency and has no intelligence background, to temporarily lead the intelligence community. Democrats and several Republicans have questioned the choice, arguing it undermines confidence in oversight of surveillance powers.
The controversy has already contributed to Senate resistance against extending the program. Republican lawmakers including Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley have warned that a lapse could create significant intelligence collection gaps if Congress fails to act.
Subscribe free for daily political analysis they won’t broadcast. Join 110K+ readers →