US Lawmakers Move to Kill the FBI’s Warrantless Wiretap Access

Congress introduced legislation to impose a warrant requirement on FBI backdoor searches of Americans’ communications, bipartisan coalition in Congress introduced the Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026.

Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026 repeals controversial expansions of warrantless wiretapping authority, the bill repeals prior expansions of warrantless wiretapping authority.

Federal court ruling found the FBI’s warrantless backdoor search practice unconstitutional, the bill aligns federal law with a 2025 federal court ruling.

Legislators Ron Wyden and Mike Lee led the Senate effort with Representatives Warren Davidson and Zoe Lofgren, senators and Representatives leading the effort were named.

Section 702 permits collection of communications of foreigners located outside the United States without a warrant, section 702 authorizes collection of foreigners’ communications outside the US without a warrant.