House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (R) (D-NY) speaks with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (L) (D-NY) on the steps of the U.S. Senate during an event with congressional Democrats on May 21, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Vin McNamee | getty images
The US House on Thursday rejected a proposal to extend a major foreign surveillance program until July 2, as Democrats continued to support President Donald Trump’s choice of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. The program will end on Friday.
Trump chose Pulte for the role earlier this month, prompting a bipartisan backlash. Pulte currently heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency and has used his position to launch investigations into several of Trump’s political opponents over allegations of mortgage-related wrongdoing. He has no prior experience in national security.
House Democratic leaders came out against the short-term reauthorization ahead of Thursday’s planned vote, effectively failing the measure. Speaker Mike Johnson was attempting to approve it under a procedural device typically used for non-controversial bills, which requires two-thirds support of the House.
The measure failed by a vote of 198–218.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., House Select Committee on Intelligence Ranking Member Jim Himes, D-Conn., and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member, “Section 702 is an important foreign intelligence authority, but we also protect the national security and “We cannot in good conscience vote for reauthorization without significant reforms to protect Americans’ constitutional privacy rights.” Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said in a joint statement.
Democratic leaders further said, “Bill Pulte has no relevant national security experience. As a result, his appointment is in disregard of the law that requires the Director of National Intelligence to have ‘extensive’ national security experience.” “The apparent motivation for his elevation is Bill Pulte’s demonstrated willingness to search government databases for alleged dirt on President Trump’s elected political enemies.”
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows the government to collect communications of people outside the US, including how they interact with Americans. It is a controversial program, particularly among privacy advocates who are concerned about American citizens’ data being seized by the government. But supporters say it is an important national security tool.
“FISA, let me remind you … it’s how we monitor terrorists who are trying to hurt Americans. It’s a very important, very important national security tool,” Johnson told reporters outside the House chamber on Wednesday.
Lawmakers were negotiating a multi-year extension of the program last week, but the Senate scrapped that effort on Friday after Trump announced Pulte as his DNI pick on a temporary basis.
Some Republicans, such as Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, who is retiring at the end of this Congress, called on Trump to revoke his nomination to pave the way for passage. But Trump doubled down on his choice this week, saying satyasocial post It was reported Wednesday that Pulte will take over on June 19 and will seek a short-term FISA patch.
Trump wrote, “FISA 702 is vital to our military and keeping the American people safe, especially during the World Cup and America250 celebrations. If nothing is done, this vital legislation will expire this week. I am asking Congress to send a short-term extension of FISA to provide time for the selection and confirmation of the agency’s permanent head.”
