House Passes Three-Year Renewal of FISA Section 702 Amid Privacy Debate and CBDC Rider

On Wednesday the House voted 235-191 to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for three years, averting its midnight Thursday expiration. The tally includes 42 Democrats and 22 Republicans in favor.

Fox News (website)

Section 702, enacted in 2008, allows warrantless collection of foreign communications abroad and has been renewed periodically. After missing the April 20 deadline, a 10-day extension was granted. GOP leaders then added a rider banning a Federal Reserve central-bank digital currency (CBDC). The House passed the three-year renewal on Wednesday, and the bill now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader John Thune has called the CBDC rider “dead on arrival.”

The Hill

Vote 235-191; 42 Democrats and 22 Republicans supported. Reforms expand congressional review of FISC filings, require monthly FBI reports on U.S.–person queries, and raise criminal penalties. The FBI recorded 9,089 U.S.–person queries after the 2024 renewal, with 127 non-compliant cases.

The Hill

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) led the effort and attached the CBDC rider. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) led Democratic criticism. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) defended the program’s security value. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) warned the rider would not survive the Senate.

The Hill

Proponents say Section 702 is essential for national security, while opponents argue it enables warrantless searches that may violate Fourth-Amendment rights, and the CBDC rider adds a policy hurdle that could block Senate approval.

World News Group

Rep. Jim Himes said there is no evidence of current misuse but urged vigilance. Senate Leader John Thune warned the CBDC provision would be stripped in the Senate. Speaker Johnson expressed confidence the Senate will act quickly to avoid a blackout.

NPR

Privacy-focused Republicans such as Rep. Chip Roy and Rep. Lauren Boebert argued the bill lacks a warrant safeguard, invoking the Fourth Amendment. Democrats, including Rep. Andre Carson, voiced distrust of the administration’s handling. Sources differ on the Senate’s stance toward the CBDC rider, with Thune calling it “dead on arrival” while other reports suggest the Senate may simply remove the provision.

The Hill

• “This bill is a three-year permission slip and blessing for the Trump administration and the next administration to keep abusing the sweeping FISA Section 702 surveillance authority to spy on American citizens’ private communications, and to violate the privacy rights of the people,” — Rep. Jamie Raskin, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee

The Hill

• “In my decade on the House Intelligence Committee, I’ve seen countless, countless instances where the intelligence obtained through Section 702 quite literally saved lives.” — Rep. Jim Himes, Top Democrat, House Intelligence Committee

The Hill

• “We should all be standing up for the Fourth Amendment,” — Rep. Chip Roy, R-TX, privacy hawk

Fox News (website)

• “dead on arrival” — Sen. John Thune, R-SD, on the CBDC rider

The Hill