President Trump declared Sunday that he will back an extension of the now-lapsed Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrantless spy power unless the SAVE America Act is attached.
The SAVE America Act includes a proof of citizenship requirement to vote and a slew of other conservative wish-list items.
Democrats have been blocking an extension of FISA Section 702, which lapsed on Friday, over concerns about Trump tapping Bill Pulte as acting National Director of Intelligence to succeed Tulsi Gabbard.
“A few Dumocrats are against FISA, with or without Bill Pulte going to DNI, as Acting,” Trump grumbled on Truth Social. “What kind of a deal is that.”
“Besides, I’m against FISA if it doesn’t come with The Save America Act (Full version!) firmly attached to it.”
Much to Trump’s chagrin, Republicans have been unable to get the Save America Act through the Senate due to the 60-vote filibuster. He’s pressured the GOP to nuke the filibuster, but has lacked the support for that.
Democrats are universally opposed to the SAVE America Act and have been reluctant to extend FISA Section 702 in the first place.
FISA Section 702 is the controversial authority that lets Uncle Sam tap into the electronic communications of foreigners without a warrant. Top intelligence honchos have long insisted that it is critical to US national security.
In April, Congress was close to a deal to extend the US surveillance powers, but that collapsed due to differences between the House and Senate over multiple provisions, including a Central Bank Digital Currency ban.
Instead, Congress agreed to a 45-day FISA extension to buy time to sort through those differences.
But Trump’s selection of Pulte to serve as acting DNI has roiled Democrats.
Pulte, the director of US Federal Housing, has made a name for himself by making criminal referrals against several of Trump’s foes over mortgage-related issues.
He has targeted key figures such as Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and more.
Democrats have argued that he lacks experience to coordinate intelligence gathering and raised concerns that he may weaponize the process against Trump’s enemies. A group of Republicans has also raised concerns about Pulte.
Top Democrats have conditioned an extension of FISA Section 702 on not having Pulte serve in the acting DNI role.
Trump suggested that Pulte would only have the post for a short period of time and would probe “rigged elections,” something that exacerbated Dem concerns about the intelligence community getting weaponized ahead of the midterms.
Last week, Trump announced that he will tap Jay Clayton, who is currently the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as DNI. But he still wants Pulte to briefly have the role in an acting capacity.
“We will get Clayton, I hope, confirmed as quickly as possible. We will then move very quickly to get FISA reauthorized,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”