Trump conditions FISA extension on SAVE America Act

President Donald Trump has declared he will not support the renewal of a key foreign surveillance program unless Congress also passes his signature voter identification bill, complicating efforts to restore the lapsed authorities. The president made the demand in a series of social media posts over the weekend, stating his opposition to any extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that is not paired with the SAVE America Act.

The surveillance authority expired on Friday, June 12, after Congress failed to reach an agreement. The impasse was initially triggered by Democratic opposition to Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte, a federal housing official, as acting director of national intelligence. Democrats argued Pulte lacked national security experience and refused to support a bipartisan deal to extend Section 702 while he remained in the role. In response, Trump nominated Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to serve as the permanent director of national intelligence. Clayton's nomination has been met with cautious optimism by some Democrats, who have signaled a willingness to advance his confirmation.