Intelligence & Surveillance — 2026-03-17

FBI Queries of Americans' Data Under FISA 702 Rose 35% in 2025

FBI searches of Americans' data collected under Section 702 rose from 5,518 in December 2024 to 7,413 in November 2025, a 35% increase that has intensified congressional debate ahead of the April reauthorization deadline. The NSA Office of Inspector General separately found the agency had not finished developing a system to prevent improper querying of US person identifiers. The White House is pushing for a clean reauthorization.

Analysis
Prior digest tracked Cotton's push for clean 18-month extension using wartime framing. The 35% query increase strengthens reformers' case but the Iran war creates political cover for surveillance hawks to argue against any restrictions during active hostilities.