Senators blocked a vote to start consideration of an extension of the authority under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to conduct warrantless surveillance of noncitizens outside the country — a controversial issue because of the potential for Americans’ communications to get swept up in the activity.
The effort to proceed to the measure failed after Senate Democrats raised concerns about Trump’s appointment of top housing official and close ally Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. As director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Pulte had sought probes into several of Trump’s perceived political enemies.
A vote to proceed to the bill failed in a 47-52 vote with Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., being the only Democrat to vote to proceed to the bill. Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Rick Scott of Florida and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama voted against proceeding to the measure.