April 17, 2026, update:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies just days before it was set to expire. A bill extending the program until April 30, 2026, cleared the Senate by voice vote Friday (April 17, 2026) as Congress raced to send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. Lawmakers turned to a short-term extension of the program after an attempt to pass a five-year renewal failed in a late-night House vote. The short-term fix sets the stage for another showdown in a matter of weeks. The program permits key national security agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant.
April 17, 2026:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies. The action came in a post-midnight session Friday (April 17, 2026) after Republicans revolted and refused President Donald Trump’s push for a longer extension. Republican leaders late Thursday had rushed out last-minute changes and called lawmakers back for a middle-of-the-night vote. Their proposal would have extended the program for five years with revisions. But the effort collapsed. At the center of the standoff is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant.
Comments