Trump signs bill extending controversial surveillance powers until April 30


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald 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 bill was approved by the Senate on Friday in a last-minute scramble to prevent the authority from expiring within a matter of days. Trump and Republican leaders have pushed for its renewal, calling it a matter of national security. Critics are concerned about its impact on civil liberties.

At the center of the debate is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. In doing so, they can incidentally sweep up communications involving Americans who interact with foreign targets.

Extending the program has become a recurring fight.

Trump and GOP leaders have been pushing for a clean 18-month renewal, while the House Republicans on Thursday came out with a five-year extension with revisions to appease skeptics. After both of those bills collapsed, leaders pivoted to the stopgap measure.

Critics want changes including a requirement for warrants before authorities can access the emails, phone calls or text messages of Americans.

Trump signed the bill Saturday without any immediate comment. The authority was set to expire on Monday.

The Associated Press




Source link

  • Related Posts

    The Cracked Crystal Ball II: Novel Arguments For Challenging Anti-Transgender Laws In Canada

    Since Alberta has decided to make itself the beachhead in bringing an “American-Style” attack on transgender people through legislation that is largely unconstitutional in Canada unless the province invokes The…

    Journalist plans to create new archive of…

    A new project from award-winning journalist Connie Walker aims to create an archive of testimonies of abuse at residential schools before the accounts are destroyed in September 2027.  “It just…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Actor Dylan Sprouse tackles trespasser at his Los Angeles home

    Actor Dylan Sprouse tackles trespasser at his Los Angeles home

    SNK’s Neo Geo console remake works with original cartridges and HDMI

    SNK’s Neo Geo console remake works with original cartridges and HDMI

    Arc Raiders switches up Expeditions and now skill points are earned from damage dealt, not stash value

    Arc Raiders switches up Expeditions and now skill points are earned from damage dealt, not stash value

    Will Keir Starmer resign? | Politics

    Will Keir Starmer resign? | Politics

    Investigators examine whether Ukraine terrorist attack was directed by Russia | Ukraine

    Investigators examine whether Ukraine terrorist attack was directed by Russia | Ukraine

    The Cracked Crystal Ball II: Novel Arguments For Challenging Anti-Transgender Laws In Canada