Senate Renews FISA Surveillance Act After Killing Warrant Requirements

The Senate voted to reauthorize the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) powers after refusing to add an amendment that would require a warrant. While intelligence officials have argued that FISA surveillance is key to combatting national security, the FBI has been caught abusing the system on numerous occasions.

The legislation extends Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for two more years. After previously passing in the House, the Senate moved forward by a vote of 60-34. President Biden has championed the bill and is expected to sign it once it reaches his desk.

The final vote came after the Senate voted down six amendments presented by progressive and conservative members who argued that the government’s spying mandate is too broad. Intelligence officials argued meanwhile that even a brief lapse in coverage would have “catastrophic” national security implications.

Senators just missed the midnight deadline to reauthorize the bill, though it was passed not long after. If the Senate did adopt amendments to require warrants, it would have sent the legislation back to the House for debate. Proponents of the bill argued that this would jeopardize national security.

Republican dissenters do not feel the bill has gone far enough to address numerous instances of illegal surveillance undertaken by the FBI and the CIA. Intelligence officials have been caught using FISA surveillance — which is designed for surveillance on foreign citizens — to illegally spy on members of the Trump campaign in 2016, January 6 protesters and Republican politicians.

Politicians will now be notified if they are the subject of FISA surveillance, though citizens will receive no such benefit.