Trump Signs Extension of Surveillance Authority

Republican leaders couldn't get full FISA renewal approved

By Newser Editors and Wire Services

Posted Apr 18, 2026 2:15 PM CDT

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Trump Signs FISA Extension, Setting Up Battle in Congress — From left, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe appear before a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing to examine worldwide threats on Thursday, March 19, 2026, on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

President Trump on Saturday signed a bill extending a surveillance program used by US spy agencies until April 30, a short-term renewal that sets up another showdown in Congress. The bill was approved by the Senate on Friday in a last-minute scramble to prevent the authority from expiring within a matter of days. Trump and Republican leaders have pushed for its renewal, calling it a matter of national security, the AP reports. Opponents express concern about its impact on civil liberties.

At the center of the debate is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI, and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. In doing so, they can incidentally sweep up communications involving Americans who interact with foreign targets. Trump signed the bill Saturday without any immediate comment. The authority was set to expire on Monday.

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