CPJ urges US lawmakers to enact reforms to protect press freedom from warrantless surveillance 

Washington, D.C., April 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on lawmakers to protect press freedom by rejecting an unamended extension of the warrantless surveillance of electronic communications permitted under Section 702 of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which approves the use of this warrantless surveillance, has itself noted the “persistent and widespread” abuses of Section 702, including backdoor searches of journalists, CPJ has previously noted.

President Trump voiced his support in a Truth Social post for a “clean extension” of Section 702, ahead of a pending April 20 deadline for renewal. Lawmakers have debated bipartisan privacy concerns over the legislation’s sweeping powers—which under Section 702 allows national security agencies to collect and review the electronic communications of Americans to, and from, foreigners living inside and outside the country, without a warrant. 

The House early this morning approved a short-term extension of FISA until April 30, after failing to advance a five-year or 18-month extension. The Senate passed the 10-day extension on Friday by voice vote.

“Without any sort of privacy reforms, the United States’ warrantless surveillance program directly undermines journalists’ ability to do their work and communicate with sources,” said CPJ Américas Director Jose Zamora. “Congress must create a framework to ensure proper oversight of Section 702 and protections to prevent the use of warrantless surveillance as a vehicle for undermining press freedom.”