Lauren Boebert Rebels Against Trump-Backed FISA Extension
Long-time President Donald Trump ally Lauren Boebert went against him again this week, saying she will not approve an extension of powers for the United States’ spy agencies.
Posting to X Monday evening, the Colorado Republican Congresswoman said, “House Leadership is still trying to ram through a clean FISA extension with ZERO reforms, ZERO warrants, and ZERO accountability,” referring to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires Monday.
While Boebert called for answers on the act being used to surveil American citizens, Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday that, “whether you like FISA or not, it is extremely important to our military.”
Boebert, one of the core MAGA members in Congress, has also broken from the president when it comes to the Iran war, claiming she wants to see more America-first policies.
Newsweek contacted Boebert and the White House for comment.
FISA Section 702: What To Know
Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications of non-Americans abroad without a warrant, a tool officials said is essential to counterterrorism, cyber threats and espionage, while critics warn it can incidentally sweep up Americans' communications and enable warrantless backdoor searches.
The CIA, NSA, FBI and other spy agencies are all covered by the act.
The Director of National Intelligence’s office releases a yearly report showing the number of foreign surveillance targets and the number of searches likely to identify an American. In 2025, that number was 350,000, up from almost 292,000 the previous year.
The act is due to expire on Monday, April 20, with pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson to pass a clean extension.
What Are Lawmakers Saying About FISA?
Boebert is among the lawmakers raising concerns about extending FISA as it stands.
“When FISA was first passed, America thought we were getting Jack Bauer. Instead, we got Jack Smith,” she posted to X on Wednesday. “I'M A NO ON FISA.”
In an earlier post, the Colorado Republican pointed to an NSA analyst using Section 702 to “spy on Americans he met on a dating app,” adding that, “this is exactly the kind of abuse that happens when we hand unchecked power to the intel community.”
Boebert and others want a warrant requirement written into the extension, which would apply to situations in which intelligence officials seek to review Americans’ emails, texts, and phone calls.
Representative Rick Crawford, an Arkansas GOP member who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, is backing the renewal, saying that he believes intelligence agencies can be empowered while still facing accountability from Congress.
Ranking member Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, offered an amendment on Tuesday, requiring the Department of Justice to seek a court order before the FBI is allowed to access records related to Americans. Himes also said the extension needed to be passed.
“FISA 702 is too critical to allow it to expire, but the legitimate concerns about the possibility of abuse also demand that we consider additional reforms, exactly what my amendment seeks to accomplish,” Himes said in a press release.
Trump Pushes for Section 702 Extension
Despite claims that FISA was used to spy on him during the 2016 election, President Trump is pushing for his party to pass the bill’s extension. In multiple posts on Truth Social, including on Wednesday morning, Trump said he was working with Johnson to get the legislation through the House.
“I am asking Republicans to UNIFY, and vote together on the test vote to bring a clean Bill to the floor,” Trump said.
“While parts of FISA were illegally and unfortunately used against me in the Democrats' disgraceful Witch Hunt and Attack in the RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA Hoax, and perhaps would be used against me in the future, I am willing to risk the giving up of my Rights and Privileges as a Citizen for our Great Military and Country!” the president continued. “Our Military Patriots desperately need FISA 702, and it is one of the reasons we have had such tremendous SUCCESS on the battlefield.”
Johnson now faces a challenge to get all his GOP members on board with the legislation as it stands, given the party’s slim majority. A vote is yet to be scheduled.
Newsweek's reporters and editors used Martyn, our Al assistant, to help produce this story. Learn more about Martyn.
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This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 11:29 AM.