House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is leading the charge to fix what he calls a “system-wide problem” with government surveillance. The Ohio Republican says federal agencies abused their powers under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to spy on American citizens without proper oversight. Jordan argues these warrantless searches violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches.
The push comes as Congress debates renewing the controversial surveillance program set to expire next April. Jordan’s committee advanced bipartisan legislation requiring law enforcement to get warrants before accessing Americans’ communications collected under FISA. This reform aims to stop intelligence agencies from using foreign surveillance as a backdoor to monitor U.S. citizens.
Conservatives point to past abuses where FBI agents illegally searched FISA databases for information on political protesters, campaign donors, and even members of Congress. Jordan emphasizes that the Trump administration would handle these powers more responsibly than the “weaponized” Biden-era bureaucracy. He notes the current White House weakened oversight by firing key auditors and freezing hiring for watchdog positions.
The proposed reforms include strict limits on FBI access to Americans’ data and mandatory audits of surveillance activities. Republicans argue these changes would prevent future administrations from exploiting FISA to target political enemies. They highlight how Democratic leaders blocked similar privacy protections last year, leaving loopholes for abuse.
Democrats counter that the warrant requirement could hinder national security investigations. But conservatives insist public safety shouldn’t come at the cost of constitutional rights. Jordan’s plan carves out exceptions for emergencies, showing Republicans want to stop government overreach without tying investigators’ hands during real crises.
The debate exposes growing distrust of federal intelligence agencies on the right. Many conservatives applaud Jordan for confronting what they see as a “deep state” culture of spying on ordinary Americans. They argue the FBI’s history of FISA abuses against Trump campaign associates proves stronger safeguards are needed.
Jordan’s efforts align with President Trump’s push to overhaul “out-of-control” surveillance programs. The administration supports requiring warrants for U.S. person queries, contrasting with Biden-era opposition to such reforms. Conservatives believe restoring accountability will protect both national security and civil liberties.
This fight represents a critical test of whether Washington can balance privacy rights with security needs. Jordan and his allies vow to keep pressing for FISA reforms that put American freedoms first. They warn that without strict limits, future administrations could easily repeat past surveillance abuses against political opponents.
