GOP rebels force Johnson to delay vote on government spy powers
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House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, are delaying a vote to renew the government’s Section 702 surveillance authority under FISA amid demands for privacy protections and the inclusion of the SAVE America Act (voter ID and citizenship verification). Johnson had planned a clean 18‑month extension, but the floor date has reportedly slipped to mid‑April.hard‑line conservatives like Rep. Keith Self argue the renewal must include a Fourth Amendment warrant requirement for searches of Americans, while Reps. Lauren boebert and Anna Paulina Luna oppose the measure unless the SAVE Act is attached. There is also tension over attaching the SAVE America Act to the spy-powers bill, with some Republicans threatening to oppose Senate-passed legislation without it. Democrats, including House Minority leader hakeem Jeffries, say FISA reforms are necessary but there is no full caucus consensus on how to proceed.
GOP rebels force Johnson to postpone vote on government surveillance law
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is delaying an expected vote on renewing the government’s spy powers amid opposition from hard-line Republicans who want to see reforms to warrantless surveillance and the potential inclusion of voter integrity measures.
Johnson initially announced he would hold a vote next week on a clean 18-month reauthorization of section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows warrantless wiretapping of non-citizens overseas. However, a source familiar confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the timeline has now slipped to mid-April.
The delay comes as hard-line Republicans are refusing to vote for an extension unless reforms are included to protect the privacy of American citizens who could be caught up in the surveillance of foreign nationals.
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“I’ve been consistent,” Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) told the Washington Examiner in a statement. “Congress should not reauthorize FISA without a warrant requirement for searches of Americans’ communications. Conservatives will keep fighting for real reforms to protect Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights.”
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) is also opposed to the extension, arguing on X that “spying on Americans isn’t America First.”
Outside of privacy concerns, GOP leadership is also dealing with demands from conservatives that the SAVE America Act be attached to the spy powers extension. The SAVE America Act, which requires ID to cast a ballot and proof of citizenship to register to vote, passed the House but has stalled in the Senate.
“I am calling on all House Republicans to VOTE NO on: 1) any rule that has Senate legislation 2) any must pass bill (like FISA) that does not contain SAVE America,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) wrote on X.
Luna and several other House Republicans have vowed to vote against any measures sent to the House from the Senate until the upper chamber passes the SAVE America Act.
Forty House Republicans made good on that promise this week when they voted against legislation previously passed by the Senate funding two small business innovation programs. Johnson secured passage of the measure thanks to overwhelming support from House Democrats under suspension of House rules. The parliamentary procedure requires that legislation be passed by a two-thirds majority.
It’s unclear whether Johnson, who has a one-seat threshold to pass legislation in the House, would be able to rely on Democratic votes to get a reauthorization of FISA across the finish line if he put it on the floor under suspension.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) told reporters to expect “every single Democrat” to oppose advancing the legislation, but that there was not a caucus-wide discussion on the legislation.
“It’s clear that FISA reforms are necessary,” Jeffries said Thursday. “Some improvements were made under the prior administration, but we’re dealing with a very different dynamic in terms of the national security folks at the helm, with respect to Donald Trump.”
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