Trump Ties FISA Renewal to Voting Bill Requiring Proof of Citizenship

Q: With data showing minimal voter fraud, what is the core vulnerability new proof-of-citizenship laws are designed to solve?

The core vulnerability these laws are meant to address is the possibility that noncitizens could get onto voter rolls and cast ballots, or that election officials cannot reliably verify citizenship at registration. Supporters argue the current system relies too heavily on self-attestation, with applicants typically checking a box declaring they are citizens. Proof-of-citizenship proposals such as the SAVE Act are designed to close that gap by requiring documents like a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers, and by using federal databases to verify status and clean voter rolls. The evidence, however, shows this vulnerability is very limited in practice. Studies and audits have found noncitizen voting to be exceedingly rare, with only a tiny number of documented cases out of hundreds of millions or more than a billion ballots cast over decades. Reviews in multiple states have also found that many flagged cases stem from clerical errors, outdated records, or confusion rather than intentional fraud. So the practical problem these laws target is not widespread ballot fraud, but a narrow registration-integrity concern: preventing ineligible noncitizens from being registered and preserving public confidence that only citizens vote. Critics say the mismatch is that the burden of proving citizenship could fall on millions of eligible voters even though the documented problem is minimal.

3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 14

Trump said he will oppose any renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act unless Congress attaches his full Save America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voting.
That demand adds a new hurdle after Congress on Thursday rejected a short-term FISA extension during a standoff over Trump's choice of Bill Pulte, an inexperienced loyalist, as acting director of national intelligence.
Some lawmakers already oppose extending FISA under any circumstances, leaving the surveillance powers without an easy path to renewal.
Trump has also said he will not sign other legislation until the voting measure passes, widening the fight beyond the surveillance debate.