House Republicans are signaling openness to stronger privacy protections for Americans under federal surveillance programs, but say extending key intelligence authorities must come first, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said.
Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee and a longtime critic of warrantless surveillance, told the Washington Examiner that reforms — including potential warrant requirements — remain on the table as lawmakers confront a looming deadline for Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The provision, set to expire April 20, allows U.S. intelligence agencies to monitor foreign targets overseas.
But it has drawn criticism from conservatives and civil libertarians who argue it has been used to collect Americans' communications without proper safeguards.
Jordan said Congress should continue pursuing stronger Fourth Amendment protections, pointing to legislation modeled after the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act.
"We will continue to work on that," Jordan said of legislative proposals that mirror Ohio Republican Rep. Warren Davidson's bill. "We think that makes sense. ... We still like that idea."
At the same time, Jordan indicated Republicans are prioritizing national security concerns, backing a temporary extension as pressure mounts from the Trump administration to maintain the authority amid rising global tensions.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is pushing for an 18-month extension without additional reforms, despite resistance from both parties. Jordan said he and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford, R-Ark., met with GOP lawmakers this week to address concerns and rally support.
The debate comes against the backdrop of past abuses, including the FBI's investigation into alleged Trump campaign ties to Russia. A 2019 inspector general report found major failures in how surveillance authorities were used, fueling ongoing skepticism among Republicans.
Jordan argued the program has since been overhauled.
"It's fundamentally a different program because of the work we've done," he said. "With the 56 different reforms ... certain accountability measures on the front end, accountability on the back end, if the rules and requirements aren't followed, audits and reports and different things."
He pointed to a sharp drop in searches involving Americans.
"Specifically in 2021, there were 3 million searches done," Jordan said. "Last year, there were 9,000 on U.S. persons. In 2021, there were 10,000 agents who had the ability to search the database. Today it's a much smaller number."
Jordan also emphasized the urgency cited by the Trump administration, which has warned of threats tied to Iran and potential attacks on U.S. interests.
"During the middle of an operation in Iran ... with attacks in our country in the last four weeks, the commander in chief said, ‘Can you give me an 18-month temporary extension?'" Jordan said. "It seems to me a temporary extension ... is not too much to ask."
Still, opposition remains. Progressive Democrats are demanding warrant requirements, while some conservatives want the measure tied to election integrity legislation.
With a narrow House majority, Johnson's path forward remains uncertain.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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