Congress eyes killing controversial surveillance program

Momentum is growing in Congress to reject the Trump administration’s request to reauthorize a controversial surveillance program. Lawmakers have until March 15 to reauthorize expiring provisions under the USA Freedom Act, including a controversial phone records program known as Section 215. The program, initially made public through leaks by former government contractor Edward Snowden, allows the National Security Agency (NSA) to collect metadata on incoming and outgoing calls from a specific number, though it does not allow the NSA to look at the content of the calls. Attorney General William Barr met with Senate Republicans on Tuesday to discuss the law and make the case for a blanket extension. But key chairmen in the House and Senate do not support reauthorizing the call records program, arguing it has been subsequently been made inoperable. “That would be a tough sell if you don’t use it,” said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Section 215 had cost $100 million between 2015 and 2019 but only in two instances provided information the FBI didn’t already have. That resulted in one investigation. This raises the odds that Congress could formally revoke authorization for the call records program while greenlighting an extension of other parts of the surveillance law set to expire...MORE