Upholding US values of security and privacy
Upholding US values of security and privacy
Publish Date: 2026-06-12 16:45:00
Source Domain: www.csmonitor.com
The lapsed authorization Friday night of a key national security surveillance provision that aims to prevent terrorist acts underscores the complex role of government in protecting the lives of U.S. citizens – and their constitutional right to privacy.
Although the Senate and the House recently voted down a third short-term extension of the provision, Americans need not worry that national security or their individual safety has been massively compromised. Earlier this year, a specialized federal court renewed the annual certification of the tool – Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) – until March 2027. So, standard intelligence-gathering will not stop.
However, some members of Congress, as well as political analysts, indicate that they’re ready for partisan wrangling and division around this issue to stop.
For some months, members of both parties have discussed a concern over FISA: the ability of the FBI or other agencies to search a vast database of communications between foreign targets and Americans, and to do so without a warrant. Describing the program as a dragnet picking up vast amounts of information, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said, “When you go to this massive database and ask about a U.S. person, that’s a Fourth Amendment event that requires some process, some scrutiny.”
Legislators were reportedly leaning toward granting another extension this month. But the administration’s June 2 nomination of housing mortgage chief Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence was seen as a new hurdle. Almost all Democrats, and a vocal minority of Republicans, questioned Mr. Pulte’s fitness for such a sensitive role, citing his lack of any experience in national security matters.
On Thursday evening, President Donald Trump named Jay Clayton, a New York prosecutor and former Securities and Exchange Commission chief, to serve full time in this post. This would remove a major stumbling block for…
