White House seeks clean extension on controversial spying law

The Trump administration is pushing for a clean reauthorization of a controversial spying law set to lapse in April, according to a top lawmaker and a second person familiar with the matter.

The statute, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, allows spy agencies to compel internet and telecom providers to supply communications data on foreign targets abroad without a court warrant. But the process can also sweep in communications of Americans talking to targeted persons, raising major civil liberties concerns.

“President Trump has requested a simple, clean extension and I support the commander-in-chief on this vital national-security decision,” Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said in a statement to Nextgov/FCW.

The administration’s desire for a clean extension is sure to be welcomed by most lawmakers on both the House and Senate intelligence panels, and will likely tee up a battle over significant reform measures long ...