TICK TOCK: Congress has two days to reup the federal government’s warrantless foreign spy powers as Trump pushes for lawmakers to pass another short-term extension.
The House is set to vote today on legislation to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) through July 2, potentially giving lawmakers more time to come to a resolution. Still, questions remain over whether the bill will have enough votes to pass in both chambers of Congress.
The provision of FISA, which expires Friday, permits the government to conduct surveillance on foreigners located abroad without obtaining a warrant. Its proponents consider the statute to be critical to the country’s intelligence-gathering and ability to fight terrorism.
The battle over renewing the provision revolves around Trump’s planned appointment of Bill Pulte, who has had a controversial tenure as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence later this month.
Trump called on Congress on Wednesday to pass a short-term extension to “provide time for the selection and confirmation of a permanent” national intelligence director.
Senate Democrats say they won’t extend FISA as long as Pulte remains in the role, rejecting efforts on Wednesday to fast-track a three-week extension.
Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, said he’d back the extension if Trump moved the existing No. 2 official in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, into the acting director role.
▪ The Hill: Pulte clash threatens extension.
▪ The Hill: What is Section 702?
NOT DEAD YET: Trump called on Congress on Wednesday to quickly pass a third reconciliation bill to provide additional military funding amid the Iran war.
Hours after signing a second reconciliation bill providing funding for immigration enforcement agencies for the next few years, the president said the next legislative package should provide $350 billion and include the SAVE America Act, a voting requirements bill that Trump has been pushing for months.
The SAVE Act has already been deemed ineligible for reconciliation, which can only include certain budgetary measures. And two key GOP senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, cast doubt on the prospect of a third bill on Tuesday, agreeing that it likely won't happen.
But some powerful Republicans seem to think a defense-focused third reconciliation bill could still be in play.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Kan.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Punchbowl News that he doesn't agree with McConnell and Collins.
“I have great respect for their point of view, and it is possible that circumstances may alter those points of view,” he said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly briefed Wicker and his House counterpart, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), earlier this week on a supplemental that would backfill U.S. weapons stockpiles used up during the Iran war and Venezuela operations.
▪ The Hill: Government funding hits wall as senators point fingers.
NEXT UP: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and high-profile attorney Alan Dershowitz may be the next major figures to appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that he would like to bring in Blanche and Dershowitz as part of the probe into the disgraced financier and those who associated with him.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom Trump fired before naming Blanche the acting head of the Department of Justice (DOJ), repeatedly said during a transcribed interview that Blanche led many of the department’s decisions regarding the Epstein files.
Dershowitz previously represented Epstein, having helped secure his controversial 2008 plea deal in which Epstein agreed to plead guilty to a count of soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Comer’s announcement came ahead of a voluntary interview that Bill Gates gave to the panel, as the Microsoft co-founder has also faced scrutiny for his contact with Epstein. The chair said he’s in touch with the DOJ about an interview for Blanche in July, working around Blanche’s expected confirmation hearing schedule to become permanent attorney general.
▪ The Hill: Dershowitz wants ‘complete transparency’ if called to testify.
▪ The Wall Street Journal: Gates says his affairs had ‘nothing to do’ with Epstein.
MORE BREATHING ROOM: Rep. James Gallagher (R-Calif.) has been sworn in as the newest member of Congress, giving the GOP slightly more room for error in party-line votes.
Gallagher won a special election held last week to fill the remainder of the seat of the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), who died in January at 65 years old. Gallagher easily won the special election in the solidly red California 1st Congressional District.
His addition brings the margin in the House to 218 Republicans and 212 Democrats, with one independent — Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif.), who caucuses with the GOP. Johnson, the House speaker, can now afford to lose three members of his conference in party-line votes, presuming full attendance.
Republicans aren’t likely to hold Gallagher's seat for much longer, as the district shifted considerably to the left in California’s new congressional map set to take effect for next year. That makes the 1st District a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats.
▪ Axios: How Republicans made the House harder for Dems to win.
