Republicans Urge Trump to Drop Pulte Nomination to Save 3-Year Section 702 Renewal
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 9
Republicans Urge Trump to Drop Pulte Nomination to Save 3-Year Section 702 Renewal
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 9
Summary
Republicans are pressing Trump to retreat on Bill Pulte’s nomination after Senate Democrats blocked a procedural vote Friday on a three-year Section 702 reauthorization.
About 15 Democratic votes are needed to pass a long-term renewal, and administration officials have opened talks with Democrats as Marco Rubio and John Ratcliffe spoke directly with Intelligence Committee Democrat Mark Warner.
Section 702 could keep operating for several more months even if it lapses because of a statutory quirk, but officials fear tech companies could challenge the program and disrupt surveillance visibility.
Trump administration lawyers are drafting contingency plans to cover any intelligence gap, while Senate aides doubt Congress can again assemble support for another short-term extension after two deadline punts since mid-April.
The White House publicly defended Pulte and accused Democrats of holding FISA hostage, even as Warner said negotiators know "the time on the clock" and still want a path to get it done.