Trump's spy chiefs put Republican leaders on the clock over 'huge priority' as power shift looms over Congress
"This is going to be a huge priority and push by the administration, by the White House for the lame-duck Congress, because this really needs to get done," the administration source said.
Key points
- EXCLUSIVE: President Donald Trump's top administration intelligence officials penned a letter to congressional leaders urging them to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
- CONGRESS RETURNS TO BRUTAL LAME-DUCK STRETCH WITH SHUTDOWN DEADLINE, LEADERSHIP RACES: 'CLOSET IS FULL OF S—' The letter, signed by Attorney General Todd Blanche, Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, set a deadline for Dec.
- Clayton and Ratcliffe briefed the Gang of 8 — members of Congress who are legally apprised of classified national security matters and covert operations by the executive branch — earlier this week about the status of FISA.
An administration official told Fox News Digital the intel measure is at top of mind for the White House to get passed in the still-Republican-controlled Congress before Democrats take a majority on Capitol Hill in January.
Additional details
- The Administration looks forward to briefing Congress again in the coming days on the irreplaceable intelligence enabled by Section 702 and the dire risks to our nation if it is allowed to expire." The Department of Justice and the White House did not return Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
- SENATE TEMPORARILY EXTENDS NATION’S CONTROVERSIAL SPYING POWERS AFTER HOUSE FUMBLES "As you know, Section 702 is the single most indispensable tool we have to keep our homeland and the American people safe," the letter says.
- JOHNSON FACES GOP REVOLT OVER WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE POWERS AHEAD OF KEY VOTE The letter explains that the statutory authority of Section 702 has lapsed, and that collection of such materials will expire on March 16 if FISA is not reauthorized.
- 9 congressional deadline to begin the renewal process will allow the intelligence agencies the necessary amount of time to complete the steps for continued Section 702 collection before the March expiration date.
- LAWMAKERS SCRAMBLE AFTER TRUMP DERAILS BID TO REVIVE KEY COUNTERTERRORISM TOOL DAYS AFTER FBI THWARTS UFC PLOT "To prevent a gap in critical intelligence and avoid putting our nation at risk, the government must start the 2027 renewal process by then," the letter states.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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