Trump’s Bill Pulte DNI Pick Jeopardizes 3-Year FISA Renewal Before June 12 Deadline
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 3
Trump’s Bill Pulte DNI Pick Jeopardizes 3-Year FISA Renewal Before June 12 Deadline
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 3
Summary
Senate Republicans were preparing votes this week on a three-year Section 702 extension, but Bill Pulte’s appointment as acting DNI has thrown bipartisan support into doubt days before the June 12 expiration.
Mark Warner and Hakeem Jeffries said Pulte’s lack of intelligence experience and record of pushing probes into Trump’s perceived enemies make it harder to trust the administration with Americans’ private data.
John Thune signaled even Republicans are wary, saying a permanent nomination would face a long path, while senior GOP aides said Pulte likely could not win Senate confirmation.
The draft renewal already faced resistance because it omits a warrant requirement for searches of Americans’ data and does not bar agencies from buying such information from brokers without a warrant.
That leaves Section 702 — a surveillance authority for foreigners abroad that can also sweep up Americans’ communications — on increasingly shaky footing after months of delay.