Both chambers of Congress approved a brief extension of a critical federal surveillance program Friday, averting an imminent expiration while lawmakers continue to negotiate over privacy protections. The measure heads to President Donald Trump for his signature, keeping the program operational through April 30. The short-term agreement reflects deepening divisions within Congress over the scope of government surveillance powers and civil liberties safeguards.
The Senate approved the 10-day extension by voice vote Friday, hours after the House cleared the same measure. The legislation preserves Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a statute that authorizes U.S. intelligence agencies to collect the digital communications of foreign nationals located outside the United States.
Without congressional action, the authority was set to lapse Monday.
The brief extension emerged as a fallback after efforts to pass a longer-term reauthorization collapsed on the House floor. Republican leadership had initially pursued a straightforward renewal with few modifications, but that approach failed to secure sufficient support from members in both parties who are pressing for stronger privacy protections.
Section 702 has long drawn scrutiny from civil liberties advocates and lawmakers on both the left and right. While the program is designed to target foreign communications, it also captures data belonging to American citizens. Under current law, the FBI may query that data using identifiers such as email addresses or phone numbers, without first obtaining a warrant.
The program has accumulated a record of controversy over the years, including documented cases of misuse by federal agents who conducted unauthorized searches of the collected data.
Intelligence officials, however, maintain that Section 702 is among the most valuable tools in the national security arsenal. Agencies argue it plays a direct role in protecting critical infrastructure, disrupting terrorist plots, and identifying foreign operatives conducting activities within U.S. borders.
The 10-day window gives House negotiators limited time to bridge the gap between those who favor a clean renewal and those demanding reforms before any long-term reauthorization can advance.
