Rep. Adams Statement on the Expiration of FISA

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), issued a statement on the expiration of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

FISA Section 702 authorizes United States intelligence agencies to conduct warrantless surveillance of foreign individuals, providing the government with access to emails, texts, and phone calls. If a U.S. citizen communicates with a foreign individual, their communications are included in accessible data, allowing U.S. intelligence agencies to acquire that citizen's data without a warrant.

The House voted to reauthorize FISA on Thursday, June 11, 2026, one day before it expired. It failed 218 to 198, with Congresswoman Adams in opposition.

"My vote reflects my concerns about the potential abuse of surveillance powers for political purposes," said Congresswoman Adams. "In 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation used authority provided by FISA over 200,000 times to search through American data. Racial justice protestors, immigrants, political activists, and members of Congress have all had their privacy violated by this loophole in data warrant requirements. That's why I supported attempts to amend FISA in 2024 and continue to oppose it today without much needed reforms."

President Donald Trump previously nominated Bill Pulte, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), sparking national pushback.

Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the permanent DNI and will oversee the application of FISA. The Senate will vote as soon as Thursday of this week on whether to confirm his nomination.

"At a time when President Trump has signaled a willingness to expand executive authority, strong oversight is more important than ever," continued Congresswoman Adams. "Trump's nomination of Bill Pulte as interim DNI despite his lack of government intelligence experience, further undermines my confidence that these authorities will be administered responsibly and with respect for Americans' privacy rights. I look forward to the Senate's hearing with Attorney Clayton and hope he will restore some level of confidence that our nation's intelligence apparatus will be used justly."

Despite the expiration of FISA's authorization, Section 702 was certified for a one-year extension by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) on March 17, 2026. Under current law, these certifications remain in effect through March of 2027 and will continue to require private companies to turn over information to the government even without the authorizing statute.