House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (R-N.Y.) speaks on the Senate steps with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (L) (D-N.Y.) during an event with Congressional Democrats on May 21, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
Win McNamee | Getty Images
The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a proposal to extend a major foreign surveillance program until July 2, as Democrats continued to hold off on President Donald Trump’s choice of Bill Pruitt to be acting director of national intelligence. The program expires on Friday.
President Trump selected Pruitt for the role earlier this month, sparking a bipartisan backlash. Mr. Prut is currently the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and has used his position to launch investigations into several of Mr. Trump’s political opponents over allegations of mortgage-related fraud. He has no national security experience.
House Democratic leaders announced their opposition to short-term reauthorization ahead of a vote scheduled for Thursday, effectively killing the bill. Speaker Mike Johnson had sought to approve the bill under a procedural tool typically used for non-controversial bills, which requires support from two-thirds of the House.
The bill failed by a vote of 198 to 218.
“Section 702 is an important provision for foreign intelligence agencies, but we cannot in good conscience vote to reauthorize it without significant reform to protect both national security and Americans’ constitutional right to privacy,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D.N.Y.) and Minority Leader Catherine Clark (Massachusetts), Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D), House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Jim Hymes (D), and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said in a joint statement:
“Bill Pulte has no national security-related experience, so his appointment violates the law requiring the Director of National Intelligence to have ‘extensive’ national security experience,” Democratic leaders continued. “The apparent motive for his elevation is Bill Pelt’s demonstrated willingness to search government databases for allegations regarding President Trump’s chosen political opponents.”
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the government to collect the communications of people outside the United States, including when they interact with Americans. It’s a controversial program, especially for privacy hawks who are concerned about US citizens’ data being leaked to the government. But supporters say it is an important national security measure.
“FISA, let me remind you… it’s how we monitor terrorists who seek to harm the American people. It’s a very important and essential national security tool,” Johnson told reporters outside the House chamber on Wednesday.
Lawmakers had been negotiating a multiyear extension of the program last week, but the Senate killed that effort on Friday after President Trump announced Pruitt as his interim DNI nominee.
Some Republicans, like Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is retiring at the end of this Congress, have called for Mr. Trump to be reselected to clear the way for passage. But President Trump further emphasized his choice this week, saying in a post on TruthSocial on Wednesday that Pruitt would take over the role on June 19 and calling for a short-term FISA patch.
“FISA 702 is critical to our military and protects the safety of the American people, especially during the World Cup and America 250 celebrations. If nothing is done, this important law will expire this week. I am asking Congress for a short-term extension of FISA to allow time for the selection and confirmation of a permanent Secretary,” President Trump wrote.
