Accessibility links
Proposed Surveillance Powers Stall FISA Update The Bush administration wants to allow the attorney general to order secret surveillance of foreign terrorism suspects without going through the FISA court. But Democrats are reluctant to give such power to any attorney general, let alone the incumbent.
NPR logo

Proposed Surveillance Powers Stall FISA Update

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/12492638/12492639" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Proposed Surveillance Powers Stall FISA Update

Law

Proposed Surveillance Powers Stall FISA Update

Heard on All Things Considered

Proposed Surveillance Powers Stall FISA Update

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/12492638/12492639" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Congress is struggling to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before leaving town for a monthlong recess.

The Bush administration wants to allow the attorney general to order secret surveillance of foreign terrorism suspects without going through the FISA court.

Democrats are reluctant to give such power to any attorney general, let alone the incumbent.