President Donald Trump is tying his support for renewing a major U.S. surveillance program to passage of his proposed election overhaul, escalating a fight in Congress over national security powers and voting rules.
The dispute centers on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a key intelligence tool that allows the government to target foreigners overseas but can also sweep up communications involving Americans. The program has long drawn criticism from privacy advocates, while intelligence officials and national security hawks argue it is essential to preventing terrorist attacks and monitoring foreign threats.
Trump made the connection explicit Sunday in posts on Truth Social.
“I’m against FISA if it doesn’t come with The Save America Act (Full version!) firmly attached to it,” Trump wrote in one post.
The SAVE America Act would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo identification to cast a ballot. The measure has stalled in the Senate, despite Trump’s repeated pressure on Republican leaders to move it forward. Trump has also urged Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to allow the bill to pass on a party-line vote.
The standoff comes after the surveillance authority lapsed for the first time since it was created in 2008. The House rejected an extension on a 198-218 vote, with 19 Republicans joining Democrats in opposition.
A coalition of conservatives, including Reps. Thomas Massie and Chip Roy and Sen. Mike Lee, has pushed to add warrant requirements before federal agencies can search Section 702 data for information involving U.S. citizens. Supporters of that change argue the program has been abused and needs stronger safeguards. National security officials warn that new warrant requirements could slow intelligence work and weaken the program.
Trump also used his Sunday posts to defend Bill Pulte, a loyalist with a housing regulation background but no national security experience, as acting director of national intelligence. Trump had previously nominated Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the permanent DNI role, with Clayton’s confirmation hearing set for Wednesday.
The president criticized Republicans over the nomination process, accusing them of “moving too fast on nominations!!!” as some lawmakers questioned Pulte’s temporary role.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has already signaled that the SAVE America Act does not have enough support to pass. The bill received 50 votes earlier this month, short of the 60 needed to overcome the Senate’s filibuster threshold.
Backers say the legislation would protect elections by ensuring only citizens vote and by increasing public confidence in the system, reported Axios. Opponents argue the bill could make it harder for millions of eligible voters to register and participate. Noncitizen voting is already illegal, and election audits and independent studies have repeatedly found it to be extremely rare.
Trump’s demand now puts two separate fights on a collision course: one over surveillance power and civil liberties, the other over voting rules and election administration. It also places Republican leaders in a difficult position as they try to revive a surveillance program supported by many national security officials while managing pressure from Trump and conservatives skeptical of both FISA and current voting laws.
Some Republicans have also raised concerns about Pulte’s access to intelligence authorities while serving as acting DNI.
“We don’t need a weaponized DNI,” Thune told reporters.
