Surveillance expansionApr–Jun 2026
Congress lets the Section 702 spy law lapse for the first time
Section 702 is the law that lets US intelligence agencies collect foreigners' communications from US tech companies, which also sweeps in Americans' messages. Congress let it expire at the end of June 12, 2026, the first lapse since it was created in 2008. Collection continues under court approvals that run until March 2027.
The House voted 235-191 to renew; renewal failed in the Senate over an unrelated CBDC-ban rider, and a 45-day stopgap passed instead. The statute lapsed at midnight on Jun 12, 2026, the first time since 2008, but the FISA Court's annual certifications keep collection running until at least Mar 2027.
How we know: Each fact checked against the linked reporting (Oct 3, 2026). Not to be confused with Hasbajrami (E.D.N.Y., declassified Jan 2025), a different case outside this window.
Source chain
- 01Nextgov/FCW, Apr 29, 2026 (House vote, digital-currency ban)
- 02ABC News, Apr 30, 2026 (45-day extension)
- 03NPR, June 12, 2026 (the lapse)
- 04Strauss Center, June 24, 2026 (first lapse)
- 05Brennan Center (certifications to March 2027)
- 06Lawfare / Schneier & Cohnlink being reconstructed
What changed on this claim