Trump signs bill extending surveillance powers until April 30
President Trump on Saturday signed a bill extending a controversial surveillance program until April 30, a short-term renewal that sets up another showdown in Congress.
The Senate passed the bill Friday in a last-minute effort to prevent the authority from expiring within days. Trump and Republican leaders back the renewal, calling it a national security issue, while critics cite civil liberties concerns.
At issue is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which lets the CIA, NSA, FBI, and other agencies collect and analyze large volumes of overseas communications without a warrant. That process can also incidentally capture communications involving Americans who interact with foreign targets.
The program has become a recurring political fight. Trump and GOP leaders first pushed a clean 18-month renewal, while House Republicans later proposed a five-year extension with changes to address concerns. After both efforts failed, lawmakers shifted to a short-term stopgap.
Critics want reforms requiring warrants before accessing Americans’ emails, phone calls, or text messages.
Trump signed the bill Saturday without comment. The authority was set to expire Monday.
