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House Vote · Political Gridlock · Section 702 · Surveillance Program
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a short-term, 10-day renewal of the controversial Section 702 surveillance program until April 30, 2026, in a post-midnight vote after a Republican revolt sank President Donald Trump's and Speaker Mike Johnson's push for a longer extension.
This stopgap measure, passed early Friday, followed a dramatic failure of earlier attempts to extend the program for five years with revisions, and then an 18-month renewal, both blocked by a coalition of Republicans and most Democrats. The program, which permits U.S. spy agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI to collect overseas communications, is deemed critical for national security by officials but faces strong opposition over civil liberties concerns, particularly after FBI officials violated standards in 2020 and 2021, as per a 2024 court order.
Speaker Johnson stated, "We were very close tonight," while Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern criticized the "amateur hour" proceedings.
The 10-day extension now moves to the Senate for urgent approval before Monday's expiration.
