Congress Approves Short-Term Extension of FISA Section 702

Before the congressional recess, the House passed a three-year extension of FISA Section 702 surveillance authorities. The bill included a controversial provision permanently banning the Federal Reserve from issuing a digital currency—a move aimed at securing votes from far-right members by attaching a long-standing priority as a “sweetener.”

However, the provision did not gain enough support in the Senate. Lawmakers rejected the House bill and instead approved a short-term 45-day extension of Section 702 to allow additional time for negotiations on a longer-term solution. The House quickly accepted the Senate’s measure by a 261-111 vote.

Bipartisan talks on the issue are ongoing, but with Congress facing a packed legislative calendar this month, lawmakers are unlikely to finalize a long-term deal until June. In the meantime, additional short-term extensions of FISA Section 702 may be required to ensure continuity of surveillance authorities.