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A major US surveillance authority is on the verge of expiring after lawmakers failed Thursday to advance a temporary extension, setting off a high-stakes confrontation between Congress and President Trump over his decision to install Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.

The breakdown has raised the possibility that Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, one of the government’s most important foreign intelligence tools, could lapse when it expires at midnight Friday. The dispute centers on Trump’s refusal to nominate a permanent replacement to lead the nation’s intelligence community.

Trump has continued to back Pulte, who currently serves as a federal housing finance regulator, despite criticism that he lacks the qualifications traditionally associated with the intelligence post. Democrats have argued that they will not support a renewal of the surveillance authority unless Trump withdraws Pulte and submits a permanent nominee for Senate consideration.

Efforts to pass a short-term extension collapsed in the House, where nearly all Democrats joined a number of Republicans in voting against the proposal. Attention now shifts to the Senate, although prospects for salvaging the measure before the deadline appear increasingly uncertain.

If the authority expires, intelligence agencies could face new restrictions on their ability to monitor foreign targets overseas. The timing is particularly sensitive as the United States prepares to host World Cup events and approaches celebrations marking the country’s 250th anniversary.

“We can’t let them extort us,” Trump said of Democrats.

The president has defended his decision to keep Pulte in the role temporarily and has asked lawmakers for additional time to select and confirm a permanent intelligence chief. Trump has also indicated that he wants Pulte to begin reducing the size and scope of intelligence agencies.

As the deadline approaches, both parties have accused the other of jeopardizing a surveillance program that many national security officials regard as critical to protecting the country.

“We’re going to ask every member here to do the right thing,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “We cannot allow that to go dark.”

Democratic leaders formally announced their opposition to the extension, arguing that Pulte’s background does not satisfy statutory requirements calling for substantial national security experience.

“The apparent motivation for his elevation is the demonstrated willingness of Bill Pulte to search government databases for alleged dirt on President Trump’s chosen political enemies,” Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and the leadership team said in a joint statement. They said there is a path to reauthorizing FISA, “but it will require enacting meaningful reforms.”

Republican lawmakers have spent much of the week pressing Trump to move quickly on a permanent nominee. Despite those efforts, the president has maintained that he requires additional time to complete the selection process.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Republican leaders have “made our views known” to the White House.

The vacancy arose following the departure of Tulsi Gabbard. Trump has said he is evaluating five potential candidates for the position.

According to Johnson, the White House views Pulte’s tenure as a temporary assignment focused on restructuring the intelligence bureaucracy.

Johnson said the president has made it very clear that Pulte will serve a “very short term — a sort of renovation role” to help the Office of the Director of National Intelligence be “renovated and downsized.”

That explanation has done little to ease concerns among House Democrats.

In a letter to Trump, Intelligence Committee Democrats led by Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes described Pulte as a “uniquely poor choice” even for an interim appointment.

Critics from both parties have cited not only Pulte’s lack of intelligence experience but also actions taken during his tenure at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. He has been associated with criminal referrals tied to allegations of mortgage fraud involving several public officials whom Trump has publicly criticized, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, and Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook.

“He has distinguished himself only as someone who will do or say anything to stay in your good graces,” Himes and the other lawmakers wrote, “qualities that are precisely the opposite of what our nation needs.”

Section 702 gives agencies including the CIA, NSA, and FBI authority to collect communications involving foreign targets located outside the United States without obtaining traditional warrants.

Although privacy concerns have led lawmakers in both parties to push for restrictions over the years, Congress had recently appeared close to agreement after negotiators developed a bipartisan compromise to renew the authority.

One of the architects of that compromise, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, said the controversy surrounding Pulte has now become a major obstacle to passage.

Warner said Pulte’s appointment to replace Gabbard is “a live hand grenade” disrupting the process.

The Virginia Democrat has proposed allowing the surveillance authority to continue temporarily only if Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Aaron Lukas serves as acting chief during that period.

Meanwhile, Republican Sens. Tom Cotton and Chuck Grassley warned the administration that the surveillance authority may soon expire and urged officials to prepare accordingly.

The administration should prepare “for a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection,” they wrote in a letter.

Following widespread criticism of Pulte’s temporary elevation, Trump indicated last week that he does not intend to nominate him permanently. Nevertheless, opponents continue to insist that Pulte should be removed immediately and replaced by a nominee who can win Senate confirmation.

Despite that pressure, Trump announced Tuesday that Pulte would assume the acting role sooner than originally planned, beginning June 19.

Among the names being discussed as a possible permanent replacement is Pete Hoekstra, the US ambassador to Canada and a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. According to a person familiar with the discussions, the White House has contacted Hoekstra about the position and conversations remain ongoing.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Tim Kaine believes momentum is building behind an effort to require President Trump to end US military involvement in Iran, saying he is nearing the number of Republican votes needed to pass a war powers resolution in the Senate.

The Virginia Democrat said supporters of the measure are encouraged by recent developments and believe they may soon secure enough bipartisan backing to move the legislation forward. The proposal seeks to halt American participation in a conflict that has now entered its 15th week.

“We think we can have a narrow win,” Kaine said. “I don’t have one absolutely pinned down, but I think I’m close.”

The legislation relies on the War Powers Act of 1973, a law designed to limit prolonged military engagements without congressional approval. If enacted, it would direct the president to withdraw US forces from the conflict absent specific authorization from Congress.

Kaine and other Democrats contend that lawmakers, not just the White House, should have a decisive voice in determining whether American troops remain engaged in hostilities involving Iran.

The effort has already attracted support from four Republican senators. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana voted to advance the measure out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Despite those gains, supporters face an uphill climb.

Even if the resolution passes the Senate, it would still have to clear the Republican-controlled House before reaching President Trump’s desk. Trump would be widely expected to veto the measure, creating another major obstacle.

To override a presidential veto, the Constitution requires two-thirds support in both chambers of Congress—a threshold that currently appears far out of reach.

Many Republicans continue to strongly support Trump’s approach toward Iran and oppose any effort to constrain the administration’s military options.

Sen. John Cornyn argued that now is not the moment to reduce pressure on the Iranian regime.

“I want President Trump to finish the job,” Cornyn told The Hill. “I’m very dubious about any agreement that you’d get with this radical regime because they won’t abide by it.”

Cornyn also expressed skepticism that Tehran would honor future commitments, warning against allowing Iran to retain strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz or maintain access to enriched uranium that could eventually support a renewed nuclear weapons effort.

Other Republican senators have characterized the proposal as more symbolic than substantive.

Sen. Todd Young of Indiana questioned what advocates of the resolution envision happening if American forces are ordered to leave the region immediately.

“All I can think of are the dangers associated with immediate withdrawal,” Young said.

The dispute reflects a broader debate in Congress over its constitutional authority regarding military action. As the conflict has continued beyond the 60-day period referenced in the War Powers Act, lawmakers have increasingly questioned the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch.

Opponents of the resolution, however, argue that limiting the president’s authority during an active international confrontation could weaken America’s position and send the wrong signal to adversaries.

The debate unfolds as Trump continues to increase pressure on Tehran through a combination of military operations, economic measures, and diplomatic demands. The president has repeatedly warned Iranian leaders that they will “pay the price” if they continue delaying negotiations.

For now, Democrats appear to be making incremental gains in their effort to build bipartisan support. Nevertheless, Trump’s strategy toward Iran continues to command significant support among Republicans who believe maintaining maximum pressure remains the most effective way to protect US interests and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced Thursday that he has called off planned military strikes against Iran after receiving what he described as a finalized proposal from Tehran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching formal nuclear negotiations.

In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said the Iranian proposal had received approval from the country’s top leadership and that diplomatic efforts had reached a critical breakthrough.

“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” he said.

Trump added that negotiations had progressed to the point where all major participants had agreed to the core framework and final details of the arrangement.

“Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others. The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized — Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly.”

The announcement followed a report first published by The New York Post indicating that Iran had delivered a final draft agreement to Qatari mediators on Wednesday evening.

His announcement came after The NY Post first reported Iran had submitted a final draft of an agreement to Qatari mediators on Wednesday night.

Later Thursday, Trump told The Post that the long-anticipated understanding with Tehran was essentially complete and that the remaining details were largely procedural.

President Trump on Thursday told The Post the long-awaited agreement to begin nuclear negotiations with Tehran is “all wrapped up,” following his announcement that he had called off planned strikes on Iran.

“It’s pretty much all wrapped up,” he said in a brief phone call with The NY Post.

The development marks a dramatic shift after weeks of military escalation and growing speculation that the United States could target Iran’s strategic Kharg Island energy hub. Instead, attention has now turned toward a diplomatic process that could reopen negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program while preserving the existing US naval blockade until a final agreement is signed.

It comes after we first reported Iran had finalized and submitted a draft memorandum of understanding to Qatari mediators on Wednesday night.

{Matzav.com}