Senate Passes FISA Reauthorization 60-34 Before Deadline, Heads to Biden

Apr 20, 2024, 01:01 PM

The U.S. Senate, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, has successfully passed a two-year reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), overcoming significant opposition and procedural challenges. The controversial bill, which allows for warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad but has also been criticized for enabling the incidental collection of data on U.S. citizens, was passed with a vote of 60-34 just before a Friday deadline. This legislative action took place after a brief lapse in the law's authority, which expired at midnight before the vote. The reauthorization now heads to President Biden's desk for approval. The debate in the Senate was intense, with discussions centering on the balance between national security needs and privacy rights. Amendments aimed at increasing privacy protections failed to pass.