FISA Section 702 Vote Delayed to Mid-April as SAVE Act Linkage and GOP Defections Threaten Passage

Speaker Johnson postponed the House vote on an 18-month clean extension of FISA Section 702 past Easter recess to the week of April 13, leaving only seven legislative days before the authority expires on April 20. At least two Republicans—Boebert and Luna—are threatening to vote against the rule, and Johnson can afford only one GOP defection without Democratic support. The delay reflects two overlapping pressures: a bipartisan bloc demanding warrant requirements for queries of Americans and a separate push to attach the Trump-backed SAVE Act voter eligibility measure. CIA Director Ratcliffe told lawmakers the President favors a clean 18-month extension. The EFF and reform advocates are pushing three alternative bills—SAFE Act, PLEWSA, and GSRA—that would impose warrant protections the current extension omits.