Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — the controversial authority that lets U.S. intelligence agencies collect communications of foreign targets without individual warrants — would get its expiration date extended to October 2027. The current authority is set to lapse, and this bill pushes that deadline out by two years. Section 702 has been a flashpoint in the privacy-vs-security debate because it can sweep up Americans' communications when they're in contact with foreign surveillance targets, even though the program officially targets non-U.S. persons abroad.
Congressional Summary
This bill extends the authorities of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until October 20, 2027. The bill also extends certain transition procedures that become effective in the event that the authorities of Title VII expire. Under these transition procedures, any order, authorization, or directive in effect when Title VII expires continues in effect until the expiration date of such order, authorization, or directive.Title VII of FISA generally addresses electronic surveillance and other methods of acquiring foreign intelligence information that are directed at targets outside the United States. Title VII includes surveillance under Section 702, which concerns acquiring communications of non-U.S. persons believed to be outside the United States to obtain foreign intelligence information. Information about U.S. persons may incidentally be acquired by this type of surveillance and subsequently queried (searched) under certain circumstances.For additional information seeCRS In Focus, IF11451 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA); andCRS Report, R48592 FISA Section 702 and the 2024 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-03-24
- Date Added
- 2026-04-14