Senate extends surveillance powers until April 30 after longer renewal collapsed in House

Source: AP

Updated 11:04 AM EDT, April 17, 2026


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies, following a chaotic, post-midnight scramble in the House to keep the authority from expiring.

The measure cleared the Senate by voice vote, without a formal roll call, as Congress raced to meet a Monday deadline. It now heads to President Donald Trump, who had pushed for a clean 18-month extension, for his signature.

GOP leaders in the House rushed lawmakers back into session late Thursday with a series of back-to-back votes that collapsed in dramatic failure, before they quickly pushed ahead the stopgap measure as they race to keep the surveillance program running past Monday’s expiration date.

First they unveiled a new plan that would have extended the program for five years, with revisions. Then they tried to salvage a shorter 18-month renewal that Trump had demanded and Speaker Mike Johnson had previously backed. Some 20 Republicans joined most Democrats in blocking its advance.

Read more: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143651854

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REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143651854

No Roll Call vote - just a voice vote.

Let's see if he signs it or does a TACO based on his threat to "not sign any bill unless SAVE was passed".