WASHINGTON, D.C. — A looming congressional deadline on surveillance authority is highlighting a shift in President Donald Trump’s stance on federal intelligence powers.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump publicly called for eliminating Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a program that allows U.S. agencies to collect communications involving foreign targets that may include Americans. However, as Congress debates renewing the provision before an April 20 deadline, Trump has signaled support for maintaining the program.
In recent statements, Trump said he would be willing to accept potential risks to individual rights in order to preserve intelligence-gathering capabilities tied to national security. The shift comes as lawmakers remain divided over whether to extend the program without additional safeguards.
Some members of Congress, including Rep. Thomas Massie, have pushed for reforms requiring warrants before accessing Americans’ communications collected under the program. Meanwhile, progressive lawmakers have opposed a “clean” reauthorization without changes.
Past disclosures have fueled concerns over the program. Government reports previously found that federal agencies conducted millions of database queries, including instances deemed improper. Recent reporting has also raised questions about how agencies track and log searches within the system.
Civil liberties advocates argue stronger oversight is needed, while supporters maintain the program is critical for intelligence operations. The debate continues as lawmakers weigh security priorities against privacy protections ahead of the deadline.
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