House Republicans warm up on spy bill renewal despite weaponization fears

Published March 19, 2026 12:12pm ET



House Republican leaders are lining up behind an 18-month extension of FISA Section 702, placing the GOP behind President Donald Trump’s push to renew the surveillance authority before it expires next month, even as many conservatives remain wary of the intelligence community’s history of abuse.

The effort was laid out on Thursday by House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR), who said during a hearing that he is working with House leadership, including ranking member Jim Himes (D-CT), and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) to support the extension.

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