The House of Representatives has failed to renew the U.S. government's warrantless surveillance law before it was due to expire on Friday, ensuring its first-ever lapse as lawmakers protest the appointment of a controversial Trump ally.

Known officially as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Section 702 has allowed vast amounts of information, including that of Americans, to be collected by spy agencies. Critics are calling for comprehensive reform of FISA, citing past abuses by administrations.

The appointment of Bill Pulte, a Trump ally with no intelligence experience, as the acting U.S. director of national intelligence raised concerns that he would use his position to undermine U.S. national security and target political opponents. His nomination was later rescinded for Jay Clayton, who has different roles in government.

While the law itself expires on Friday, many surveillance programs authorized under FISA are likely to continue operating until March 2027. Phone companies may be unwilling to share customer data without a clear legal mandate, and the U.S. government can rely on other surveillance avenues such as Executive Order 12333.