Republicans Passing Bill Letting FBI Spy on Americans Enrages MAGA

MAGA Republicans are raging over GOP lawmakers aiding the passage of a provision of this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that may allow the FBI to "spy" on Americans.

The NDAA, which typically sees bipartisan support, passed in the House by a vote of 310 to 118 on Thursday. While the $886 billion bill was notably approved without the inclusion of several culture war amendments that many hard-right Republicans had demanded, it did include the temporary reauthorization of a controversial provision known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Section 702 allows federal law enforcement to listen in on the communications of foreigners abroad without a warrant, including some "incidental" communications involving Americans. It had been set to expire at the end of this year. The reauthorization extends the provision for four months, setting up a potential congressional showdown over a long-term solution next year.

While a selection of lawmakers from across the political spectrum have opposed Section 702 over concerns of privacy and potential abuses of power, a number of MAGA Republicans railed against reauthorization of the measure due to the FBI having surveilled a Trump 2016 campaign aide using unrelated FISA warrants. Trump himself signed Section 702 into law in January 2018, calling it "vital to keeping the Nation safe."

"Has your Congressman learned the lessons of how the Democrats and anti-Trump FBI agents manipulate the FISA courts to spy on Americans?" former Trump administration official Richard Grenell posted on X, formerly Twitter. "There is no excuse to reauthorize a program that has been abused. #StopTheNDAA"

"BREAKING: The NDAA passes the House with bipartisan support," posted Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. "FISA section 702 gets a clean 4-month renewal and the FBI can continue surveilling Americans without a warrant. Corruption wins. The Constitution loses. Again"

"We sold you out," Republican Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee posted. "The #NDAA allows #FISA , pays for sex change surgery and covers up #uap and spends over $886 billion."

"Here is a list of 147 @HouseGOP members who just voted YES on the NDAA without removing funding for the unconstitutional FISA courts," posted pro-Trump conspiracy theorist and former congressional candidate Laura Loomer.

"Notice @SpeakerMcCarthy is one of them," she added. "Son of a b**** is trying to let Democrats take back control of the House and have a fully funded FISA in an election year to go after Trump. These people are sickening."

"147 Republicans just voted to reauthorize the FISA 702 program that was used to illegally spy on President Trump," posted right-wing commentator Rogan O'Handley, also known as DC Draino. "Their voters deserve answers"

After signing Section 702 into law in 2018, Trump touted the measure as "the right thing for our country" and stressed that it was not the same law that was allegedly used to spy on his campaign.

"Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection," Trump wrote on X, which was then Twitter. "This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first!"

Newsweek reached out for comment to Trump's office via email on Thursday.

MAGA Republicans were not the only group opposing the NDAA over the extension of Section 702.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) recommended that its members vote "no" this week because the bill "contains a reauthorization of surveillance authorities routinely used against Americans in violation of the Constitutional right to privacy."

Democrats who voted against the NDAA in the House included "Squad" members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib. Republican "no" votes included MAGA favorites Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar and Jim Jordan.

The NDAA was previously passed in the Senate by a vote of 87 to 13 on Wednesday and is now headed to to the desk of President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it into law.