Trump makes public call for clean 18-month 702 extension

President Trump made his first public call for a clean extension of the nation’s warrantless spy powers Wednesday, pointing to the ongoing conflict in Iran as a rationale. 

Trump, through legislative channels, has called for an 18-month extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which authorizes the government to spy on foreigners located abroad. 

“With the ongoing successful Military activities against the Terrorist Iranian Regime, it is more important than ever that we remain vigilant, PROTECT our Homeland, Troops, and Diplomats stationed abroad, and maintain our ability to quickly stop bad actors seeking to cause harm to our People and our Country,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

“The fact is, whether you like FISA or not, it is extremely important to our Military,” he added.

It’s a pivot for Trump, who when the spy powers were last reauthorized in 2024 told lawmakers to “KILL FISA.”

In shifting positions, Trump has gotten some notable lawmakers to move with him.

Some privacy-minded conservatives have previously pushed for the intelligence community to get a warrant before reviewing information on Americans that get swept up if they communicate with those surveilled. 

Many lawmakers in 2024 refused to reauthorize Section 702 once an amendment to require a warrant failed, including House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).

But Joran reversed last week, saying he would support a clean reauthorization and citing some 50 reforms included in the bill, including limiting the number of agents who can search the database and requiring them to get a supervisors blessing before reviewing information on Americans.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), a former House Judiciary Chair, told The Hill Wednesday that he, too, plans to back a clean extension, reversing course after voting against FISA 702 renewal in 2024.

“We’re satisfied that there’s progress. We certainly want to be able to look at it again in 18 months. And it doesn’t mean that there may not be additional action. It means that in the middle of a war, to change the standard could create confusion. To let it lapse would be unacceptable,” Issa said.

Issa said he was reassured by the latest reporting around FISA 702 queries of information on Americans, noting a dramatic decline.

“We’ve reduced this down to a short term extension, no longer than 18 months. [We’ll] continue to monitor and the numbers are pretty compelling. You know, what used to be thousands of misapplications is now 18, and 18 is still not zero, but it’s not all that bad,” he said. 

“And part of it’s because we’ve reduced the number of people who have access.”

This story was updated at 3:04 p.m.

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