House blocks short-term extension of key Fisa spy power amid furor over Bill Pulte

The House has rejected a short-term extension of Fisa section 702, a key surveillance program, to 2 July by a vote of 198-218, leaving one of Washington’s most powerful intelligence tools on course to expire at midnight.

The GOP attempting to pass the bill using a fast-track process that requires a two-thirds majority vote to succeed.

But Democrats said they would block the move to renew the spying authority in protest over Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte, a close ally with no national intelligence experience, as acting director of national intelligence. Some Republicans have also expressed scepticism over the appointment.

Democrats also cited an absence of reforms that are also being sought by dozens of Republicans.