FBI Director Christopher Wray issued a warning to Congress on Thursday regarding the potential threat of attacks on U.S. soil stemming from events happening overseas.
FBI Director Christopher Wray expressed his primary concern about the possibility of individuals or small groups getting inspired by the events in the Middle East and carrying out attacks within the United States. However, he now finds the potential for a coordinated attack on American soil even more worrisome, similar to the ISIS-K attack that occurred at the Russia Concert Hall a few weeks ago.
FBI Director Wray urges Congress to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This section allows the government to gather communications of non-American individuals abroad who utilize U.S.-based platforms without requiring a warrant.
Allies of former President Donald Trump successfully defeated the effort on Wednesday, following Trump’s social media post urging the GOP to “Kill FISA.”
Conservative House Republicans strongly oppose the reauthorization of the measure unless an amendment is included that mandates the intelligence community to acquire a warrant before accessing the data of American citizens.
The ACLU and other civil liberties groups have expressed their support for comparable reforms, arguing that Section 702 permits the government to conduct “widespread, unauthorized surveillance of Americans’ and foreigners’ phone calls, text messages, emails, and other electronic communications.”
On Wednesday, Congress took a vote on a bill that unfortunately did not include the warrant amendment. The following day, FBI Director Wray testified to address concerns about the bureau’s budget, which is currently facing a significant $500 million decrease. It seems that House Republicans have made cuts to the budgets of the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies. In light of this, Director Wray appealed to Congress to provide funding for the agency until 2025.
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