Thune Advocates for FISA Renewal on Its Own Despite Trump’s Attempt to Link It to the SAVE America Act

Senate Republicans Continue Efforts to Reinstate FISA Section 702

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) announced on Monday that Senate Republicans are pushing ahead with plans to reinstate Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This move comes despite President Donald Trump’s desire for a renewal that would be tied to the SAVE America Act.

According to Thune, his team is advocating for a standalone bill. Reporters noted that they are currently assessing votes and will present the bill to the Senate floor as soon as possible. The urgency is palpable; the surveillance program hit a standstill recently after a Congressional deadline was missed.

“As soon as we feel we have the votes to move 702, we will move it,” Thune stated.

Thune emphasized that Section 702 is a crucial intelligence tool, citing previous assertions from Democratic leaders defending the importance of surveillance for national security. He mentioned that his experiences on the Intelligence Committee have demonstrated how FISA Section 702 powers enhance the nation’s ability to fight terrorism, counter foreign cyber threats, disrupt drug trafficking, and safeguard military operations.

This section allows U.S. intelligence agencies to gather communications from foreign targets located outside the U.S. without needing to secure a traditional warrant.

Thune described attempts to connect the SAVE America Act to the FISA extension as “unrealistic,” noting that there isn’t enough support for election integrity measures to be included in the Oversight Act.

On Monday morning, Trump reiterated his opposition to a standalone extension of FISA, insisting instead that the SAVE America Act should be linked to the Section 702 renewal. He expressed his concerns through a post on Truth Social, questioning the validity of deals with some Democratic members and staunchly opposing FISA without the attachment of the “American Rescue Act.”

When questioned about the possibility of a veto from Trump, Thune stressed the necessity of restoring surveillance powers. “If we can get FISA off the floor, I certainly hope he will sign it,” he remarked.

Thune indicated that if the Senate confirms Jay Clayton as the director of national intelligence, it might alleviate some Democratic resistance to updating Section 702. “It probably depends on whether or not Clayton gets approved and gets the position,” he mentioned.

Recently, Democrats in both chambers blocked intelligence legislation, primarily in response to President Trump’s nomination of Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte for the acting director of national intelligence role. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican, Louisiana) affirmed on Sunday that House Republicans are determined to move forward with the SAVE America Act, despite unanimous Democratic opposition. “So we have to do it ourselves. I’m going to attach that to Reconciliation 3.0 and I’ve told the president that we’re going to do everything we can to make sure it gets there,” Johnson stated.