But reformers — including both progressive Democrats and libertarian-minded Republicans — want to add a requirement that officials must get a warrant before querying the repository for the contents of Americans’ communications. Under the rules to be voted on Wednesday, critics led by Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, would get a chance to try to add that requirement to the bill.
National security officials argue doing so would cripple the program. Senior lawmakers on the House national security committees, including Representatives Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, and Jim Himes of Connecticut, its top Democrat, have also resisted such changes, and are backing the more modest adjustments in the bill.
But a handful of Republicans favor allowing Section 702 to expire altogether — Mr. Gaetz among them.
“I’m incredibly disappointed that the views that Speaker Johnson deeply held for seven years as he sat next to me on the House Judiciary Committee he has done a 180 on,” Mr. Gaetz said. “Mike Johnson made the arguments against FISA and its abuses better than I did in the House Judiciary Committee. And this is something that I strongly disagree with.”
In a letter to fellow Republicans, Mr. Johnson laid out his reasons for pushing for the extension.
“FISA and Section 702 have been essential to intercepting communications of dangerous foreign actors overseas, understanding the threats against our country, countering our adversaries, and saving countless American lives,” Mr. Johnson wrote.
“However, as a former constitutional law litigator and chair of the House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on the Constitution I can state unequivocally that the F.B.I. terribly abused the FISA authority in recent years, and in turn, violated the trust and confidence of the American people,” he added. “Our responsibility now is simple: maintain the tool but strictly prohibit future abuses.”
Catie Edmondson contributed reporting.