A bill to amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through May 21, 2026, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 4444
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-30: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-13T23:10:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (S. 4444) aims to briefly extend the surveillance authorities under Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978—specifically Section 702, which allows warrantless monitoring of non-U.S. persons abroad for national security purposes—and to increase transparency by requiring the public release of a related court opinion.
Key Provisions
- Public Release of Court Opinion (Section 1): The Director of National Intelligence (DNI), in consultation with the Attorney General (AG), must release a March 17, 2026, Memorandum Opinion and Order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) on Section 702 certifications. This must occur by May 12, 2026, with redactions only to protect intelligence sources and methods.
- Extension of Authorities (Section 2): Extends the expiration date of Title VII authorities from April 30, 2026, to May 21, 2026 (a three-week extension). Applies to two specific legal notes in the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. Takes effect on the date of enactment or April 29, 2026, whichever comes first.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Changes the sunset (expiration) date in Section 403(b) of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 from April 30, 2026, to May 21, 2026.
- Introduces a new mandate for public disclosure of a specific FISC opinion, promoting limited transparency not previously required.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Provides a short-term continuation of intelligence collection programs (e.g., by the NSA), preventing a lapse in operations during potential legislative negotiations.
- Citizens and Privacy Advocates: Increases public access to judicial oversight of surveillance, potentially aiding debates on reforms, though redactions limit full disclosure.
- International Relations: Maintains U.S. foreign intelligence capabilities, with minimal direct impact given the brief extension.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Intelligence Community: DNI, AG, NSA, and other agencies relying on Section 702 for counterterrorism and foreign intelligence.
- Congress: Select Committee on Intelligence (where the bill was referred), influencing broader FISA reauthorization debates.
- Public and Civil Liberties Groups: Benefit from opinion release, enabling scrutiny of surveillance practices.
- Non-U.S. Persons Abroad: Indirectly affected by continued warrantless surveillance under Section 702.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures no gap in surveillance authorities, avoiding operational disruptions; FISC opinions (from a secret court overseeing FISA warrants) are rarely public, so this sets a precedent for transparency.
- Constitutional: Balances national security (4th Amendment allowances for foreign surveillance) with privacy concerns, amid ongoing debates over incidental collection of U.S. persons' data.
- Political: Short extension (introduced by Sen. Wyden, a surveillance critic) may signal interim measure for longer-term reforms, potentially delaying comprehensive reauthorization amid partisan divides.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-30: Read twice and referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence.
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 through May 21, 2026, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-30 — PDF (2 pages)