Senate approves short-term surveillance law extension through April 30 as negotiations continue

The US Senate passed a short-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Friday, sending the stopgap measure to President Donald Trump's desk to be signed into law.

The Senate approved the extension through April 30 via voice vote after the House of Representatives narrowly passed it in the early morning hours Friday. A group of roughly 20 House Republicans prevented longer-term renewals of FISA.

House Speaker Mike Johnson had been seeking a five-year extension, but even an 18-month renewal faced strong headwinds from his fellow Republicans amid concerns that the authorities in the act could be used to spy on Americans without a warrant.

FISA was slated to lapse on Monday.

US President Donald Trump has long clamored for a FISA extension and called on Republicans in a Wednesday post to his Truth Social website to unify around a renewal.

"Our Military Patriots desperately need FISA 702, and it is one of the reasons we have had such tremendous success on the battlefield," he said, referring to the section of the law that critics have said allows for warrantless collection of Americans' communications.

"It has already prevented many such Attacks, and it is very important that it remain in full force and effect," he added.