This week on The Hill: Congress scrambles on reconciliation 2.0 and FISA

Republicans are heading into a legislative crunch week with two of their biggest priorities — an immigration enforcement funding bill and a long-term extension of the government’s warrantless spying powers — on the calendar.

The House is set to take up a $69.5 billion budget reconciliation package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol through 2029 after it passed the Senate on Friday. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will need near-unanimous support on the measure, which is not expected to get any Democratic votes.

He can only afford to lose two GOP votes, assuming all members are present and Democrats are unified in opposition. Johnson can already expect pushback from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a fiscal hawk conservative who voted against Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.

At the same time, Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) will need to rally lawmakers around a deal to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on foreigners abroad without a judicial warrant.

The section expires on June 12, and its reauthorization has run into roadblocks on both sides of the aisle.

Privacy hawks in the House have been demanding that any long-term extension include a permanent central bank digital currency (CBDC) ban and a warrant requirement. If Johnson cannot get near-unanimous support on a procedural vote to reauthorize the program, he has the option of moving it using a fast-track process that requires two-thirds support — including significant backing from Democrats.

House and Senate Democrats, meanwhile, have been vowing to block any FISA renewal until President Trump withdraws his appointment of Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.

What you can expect this week:

House to take up reconciliation 2.0: The lower chamber will take up an immigration enforcement funding bill that passed the Senate last week.

GOP stuck on FISA renewal: Democrats have vowed to oppose a FISA extension over concerns about Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.

2027 fiscal appropriations bills on the calendar: The Senate is expected to consider several fiscal 2027 appropriations bills. 

Reconciliation 3.0 discussions heat up: House Republicans are beginning work on a third massive party-line spending bill. 

House races to pass immigration funding bill

This week will be critical for Johnson as he looks to........

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