House Republican leaders decided to delay the initial vote to reauthorize FISA as they scramble to rally enough support among party members.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had attempted to push through a procedural rule vote on Wednesday to set up debate on renewing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

President Trump has urged House Republicans to unite and pass a “clean extension” of the controversial provision.

“Do What Is Right For Our Country” – President Trump Urges House Republicans To Pass “Clean Extension” Of Controversial FISA Section, Provides Explanation

The Hill explained further:

But he canceled that scheduled procedural vote as holdouts pushed for a late-stage amendment on warrant requirements — or other unrelated issues — as a condition of allowing the bill to move forward, a leadership source confirmed to The Hill.

“We would have to amend it on the floor or in committee,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas).

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When the vote was initially punted, a notice from the Democratic Whip’s office said that legislative action on FISA could still happen on Wednesday. But by early afternoon, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said that any action on FISA would likely not happen until Thursday, and not in a vote series scheduled late Wednesday night.

“We’re still working through some final pieces of, you know, what could hopefully be an agreement that get it done,” Scalise said.

Section 702 allows the government to spy on foreigners located abroad, but it can sweep up the communications of Americans who speak with any targets being surveilled. That’s prompted critics to argue any information collected on Americans should only be accessed with a warrant.

FISA Section 702 expires on April 20.

House Republicans have numerous members within its ranks who are extremely critical of the provision.

“Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights are not for sale. I urge Congress to pass FISA Section 702 reforms to close the loophole that allows the federal government to purchase citizens’ private data,” Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) said.

“I vote with GOP 91% of the time, but that’s about to go to 90%. I won’t vote to let feds spy on you without a warrant. FISA 702 allows the government to search for your information in vast databases compiled while targeting foreigners,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) commented.

Axios has more:

Conservatives are vowing to vote no on the procedural rule vote, where House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) can only afford to lose two members.

It's not immediately clear whether GOP leadership will still hold a vote on the rule later Wednesday.

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Conservative lawmakers are demanding an amendment vote on warrant requirements.

Johnson has previously said that addition would make the program "unworkable."

But GOP leadership and the Trump administration are showing new openness to compromise as talks intensify.

If leadership agrees to allow a vote on warrant requirements, holdouts would accept an even longer extension of the program through the rest of Trump's term, one House Republican involved in talks told Axios.

"I'm for the clean [extension], but I'm open to whatever gets it done," House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio.) told reporters Tuesday.

An amendment on warrant requirements failed on a tie during the 2024 FISA reauthorization.

 

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