CONGRESS FACES JUNE 12 DEADLINE ON SURVEILLANCE LAW

Section 702 allows the government to conduct warrantless surveillance on foreign targets, but the law has faced criticism for enabling bulk collection of Americans' communications. Advocates for reform have pushed for stronger privacy protections and oversight mechanisms, while intelligence agencies argue the current authority is essential for national security. The repeated extension pattern reflects deeper divisions within Congress. Privacy advocates and national security officials have found little common ground during negotiations. The short-term reauthorization in April was meant to provide breathing room for substantive discussions, but those talks have stalled. Lawmakers now face pressure to either craft reform legislation, extend the law again, or let it lapse—each option carrying political and national security consequences. The June 12 deadline marks the third time this year Congress has grappled with Section 702's future.