Senate Blocks Surveillance Extension   06/05 06:26

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate blocked an extension early Friday of a key 
surveillance program used by U.S. intelligence agencies as concerns mounted 
over President Donald Trump's selection of federal housing finance regulator 
Bill Pulte to serve as director of national intelligence.

   Some Republicans joined Democrats in the 47-52 vote against a a procedural 
motion that would have set up a final vote on the extension next week, 
complicating efforts to extend the critical program before it expires on June 
12. The vote came after an overnight session on separate legislation funding 
immigration enforcement agencies.

   Senate Majority Leader John Thune said following the vote that the Senate 
"will take another run at it" next week but that Democrats' opposition is a 
"terribly irresponsible position."

   "The naming of Pulte to that position, although the timing arguably wasn't 
the best, I still don't think it ought to derail something that's this 
important," Thune said.

   The vote marked the latest setback for Trump and intelligence officials, who 
have spent months pushing to extend a key provision of the Foreign Intelligence 
Surveillance Act that allows agencies such as the CIA, National Security Agency 
and FBI to collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant.

   Concerns that the program can incidentally sweep up Americans' 
communications left Republican leaders only able to pass short-term extensions 
while negotiations continued. Critics wanted a warrant requirement when those 
communications are accessed.

   Seven Republican senators joined nearly all Democrats in voting against the 
bill, with Sen. John Fetterman voting for it.

   Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee who 
had worked to negotiate the bill, voted against it. He said earlier Thursday 
that he and committee Chair Sen. Tom Cotton had reached what he described as a 
"compromise" on a "strong bill," but that the "complete irresponsibility of 
putting forward" Pulte had changed the equation.

   Pulte has seen pushback to his appointment from both Democrats and 
Republicans for his lack of experience and past controversies. Thune said the 
position shouldn't be "weaponized" and should be led by "professionals."

   "Does anybody think it makes good sense to give him the keys to the 18 
intelligence agencies?" Warner said.

   Trump on Thursday said Pulte would not be his "permanent" choice for the 
critical security post.

   Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a longtime critic of the surveillance system, said 
the bipartisan vote was proof that "reform efforts transcend red and blue."

   "It's a message that Americans aren't going to stand for law abiding people 
being spied on," Wyden told The Associated Press.

   The Senate is expected to revisit the legislation when lawmakers return next 
week.

   Any agreement would still need to clear the chamber's 60-vote threshold 
before heading to the House, where lawmakers have yet to resolve differences 
over a provision restricting a central bank digital currency that House 
Republican leaders added to secure support for the bill.