Jim Himes Urges Democrats to Support FISA Section 702 Reauthorization

Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, is urging fellow Democrats to support a short-term reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, according to internal communications obtained by WIRED.

Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies to target non-U.S. persons located abroad, but communications involving Americans can also be collected and later queried by the FBI. Himes argues that reforms enacted in 2024 have improved compliance and says he has not seen evidence of current misuse, while remaining open to additional reforms.

Privacy advocates and some lawmakers dispute whether existing safeguards are sufficient and continue to push for stronger warrant requirements and independent oversight. Those concerns remain part of the congressional debate over the program’s future.

Source: WIRED.