Dear John,

Congress is gearing up for a high-profile fight over reauthorizing a handful of controversial surveillance programs months before the 2020 elections.

Lawmakers now have 14 working days to figure out if and how they will reauthorize expiring provisions of the USA Freedom Act by the March 15 deadline. 

This comes as the Trump administration is working on reforms related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). It's likely that these forthcoming ideas could be included as part of the debate over reauthorizing the USA Freedom provisions.

What's Being Debated?

• Among the expiring provisions that Congress needs to make decisions on is a controversial records program, known as Section 215, that gathered metadata on domestic text messages and phone calls. 
• They'll also need to make decisions on two other provisions — one authorizing “roving” wiretaps and the other on lone wolf surveillance authority. 
• Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) — the top Republicans on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees, respectively — sent a letter to Jerry Nadler over the recess pitching the USA Freedom debate as a vehicle for making FISA changes.

As technology continues to evolve, the operation and communications habits of America's enemies will continue to change and adapt. In light of this dynamic environment, we support the reauthorization of our ability to monitor such communications. However, it is critical this is done in a way that doesn't infringe upon the privacy and liberty of innocent American citizens.

The goal of prioritizing transparency is likely to be met with resistance from the national security establishment and its proxies on the National Security Council.

This matter may soon require action from each and every one of you, but for now, we just want to keep you informed.