The Senate early Friday blocked a crucial extension of a surveillance program utilized by U.S. intelligence agencies, as concerns mounted over Donald Trump’s selection of federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte to lead national intelligence.
A procedural motion to set up a final vote on the extension next week failed 47-52, with some Republicans joining Democrats. This complicates efforts to renew the critical program before its June 12 expiration.
The vote followed an overnight session on separate legislation funding immigration enforcement agencies.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated afterward that the Senate "will take another run at it" next week, but characterized Democratic opposition as a "terribly irresponsible position."
He added, "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."
This setback marks the latest challenge for Donald Trump and intelligence officials, who have spent months advocating for the extension of a key provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
This provision allows agencies such as the CIA, the National Security Agency, and the FBI to collect communications from foreign targets without a warrant.
Concerns that the program could incidentally gather Americans’ communications have previously led Republican leaders to pass only short-term extensions.
Critics have long called for a warrant requirement when such communications are accessed. Seven Republican senators joined nearly all Democrats in opposing the bill, with Sen. John Fetterman casting a vote in favor.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, who had worked to negotiate the bill, ultimately voted against it.
He explained that while he and committee Chair Sen. Tom Cotton had reached a "compromise" on a "strong bill," the "complete irresponsibility of putting forward" Pulte had altered the situation.
Warner questioned, "Does anybody think it makes good sense to give him the keys to the 18 intelligence agencies?"
Pulte’s proposed appointment has faced bipartisan pushback due to his perceived lack of experience and past controversies.
Thune commented that the position should not be "weaponized" and ought to be led by "professionals." Donald Trump himself indicated on Thursday that Pulte would not be his "permanent" choice for the vital security role.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a long-standing critic of the surveillance system, highlighted the bipartisan nature of the vote as proof that "reform efforts transcend red and blue."
He told The Associated Press, "It’s a message that Americans aren’t going to stand for law abiding people being spied on."
The Senate is anticipated to revisit the legislation next week.
Any agreement would still require clearing the chamber’s 60-vote threshold before moving to the House, where lawmakers are yet to resolve differences over a provision restricting a central bank digital currency, which House Republican leaders added to secure support for the bill.
