US House will attempt to pass extension of powerful surveillance law

The US House of Representatives will attempt on Thursday to pass a short-term extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa). Democrats have stated their intention to block this renewal. Their protest stems from Donald Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as the acting director of national intelligence. Pulte is described as an inexperienced loyalist and a major Republican donor. The Fisa law grants the government broad powers to conduct surveillance on foreign individuals within the United States, and its reauthorization has become a point of contention in Congress.