US Lawmakers Warn Pulte Appointment Could Thwart Surveillance Law's Renewal

President Donald Trump controversial appointment of Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence has thrown the renewal of a critical U.S. surveillance law, FISA Section 702, into disarray just days before its June 12 expiration. Two prominent lawmakers with national security expertise issued sharp warnings on Sunday, arguing Pulte's lack of intelligence experience and past conduct could tank bipartisan efforts to extend the authority. The move comes as Congress remains deeply divided over reauthorizing Section 702, which permits warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad but has drawn fierce criticism over its incidental collection of Americans' communications and documented abuses by the FBI. Pulte, who currently heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has no background in intelligence and has been accused of weaponizing his prior office to target President Trump's political adversaries, raising alarms about politicization within the intelligence community. With the Senate having recently blocked an extension, the future of Section 702 is highly uncertain, posing significant implications for U.S. intelligence operations. Lawmakers like Senator Mark Warner and Representative Jim Himes emphasize that Pulte's appointment risks leaving the nation's spy agencies without a vital tool, underscoring the urgent need for either his reversal or a swift, bipartisan compromise on critical reforms before the deadline.