A rare lapse in a law that allows the U.S. to gather intelligence abroad is growing more likely after President Donald Trump resisted calls from Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill to immediately name a permanent head of the nation's intelligence agencies. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Trump has doubled down on his temporary pick for director of national intelligence, federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte, even though he has little experience for the job. Democrats say they won't support the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA, unless the president withdraws Pulte's appointment and nominates a permanent replacement.
The House will try early Thursday to approve a short-term FISA extension, but passage is unlikely. The Senate may follow suit, hoping to prevent what could be an unprecedented lapse in the surveillance tool.
Trump has stuck with Pulte as the acting head, rebuffing demands from lawmakers for a more qualified nominee. He asked Congress for a short-term extension of the law to "provide time for the selection and confirmation" of a permanent director. He said he wants Pulte to begin downsizing intelligence agencies.
"We can't let them extort us," Trump said of Democrats.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said: "We cannot allow that to go dark."
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called Pulte a "disgraceful individual" and a "partisan political hack."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republican leaders have "made our views known" to the White House.
Trump said he is interviewing five candidates for his pick to lead the agency permanently, after the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard.
The impasse could soon result in limitations on what intelligence the U.S. government can collect abroad just as World Cup games begin in cities around the country and ahead of celebrations for the nation's 250th anniversary. The law expires on Friday at midnight.