Democrats Might Save Mike Johnson’s Push to Give Trump Domestic Spying Power

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., delayed a House vote on President Trump's request to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after facing opposition from conservative Republicans, but some top Democrats—including House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut—are now signaling they will vote to pass a "clean" reauthorization. The law expires April 20, and Section 702 allows federal agencies to search information on U.S. citizens found in foreign intelligence data without a warrant, a practice privacy advocates have long opposed. With Republicans divided—Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., pledged to vote no and Johnson can only afford one other GOP defection—Johnson may need Democratic votes to pass the bill, giving the party rare leverage to demand safeguards like warrant requirements or closing data-broker loopholes. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is urging Democrats to oppose a clean extension, arguing that Trump administration safeguards have "been badly eroded," while other Democrats like Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., remain undecided. The vote is expected by mid-April.