Weekly Spotlight: It’s complicated
A reprehensible bait and switch
On Wednesday, we wrote to you about the Senate finally joining the House in passing a war powers resolution on the Iran war. The vote was remarkable: it was the first time since the War Powers Act was enacted in 1973 that both the House and Senate agreed on a concurrent resolution directing an end to a war. It was the 10th attempt at a vote since the start of the Iran war, and was the outcome of months of sustained, unrelenting pressure from people like you. We celebrated the bipartisan vote as a powerful (albeit long-overdue) rebuke of executive overreach. But it turns out even the 10th time isn’t the charm for this Congress. In a late-night session on Thursday, following a heated closed-door meeting with the president, two senators changed their votes on a new war powers resolution.
- What this means: The vote reversal is ineffectual in practice and a thinly-veiled attempt to mollify the president. The resolution the Senate passed still stands.
- Reality check: A war powers resolution was always only going to be the first step and not an end in itself. The White House must now comply with the resolution. If it refuses to comply, Congress needs to force its hand.
- At the very least, Wednesday’s bipartisan vote is a sign that your representatives are finally heeding your demands and showing a willingness to check the executive branch. Our pressure campaign worked. We need to continue speaking out so Congress hears your demands louder and clearer than any backroom whispers from the president.
- A quick take from POGO’s Greg Williams.
It’s complicated
The battle to reform FISA is at a stalemate — and that means we’re winning. Section 702 of the surveillance law lapsed two weeks ago after Congress refused to reauthorize the provision without reforms; partly in protest of Bill Pulte, who the president named as acting director of the government’s top intelligence agency. After the backlash, the president nominated Jay Clayton to lead the agency permanently — but derailed the confirmation hearing process last Wednesday. President Trump is now demanding his voting restriction bill be attached to FISA, or he won’t approve the surveillance law’s reauthorization or extension. POGO is on the record that voting rights are crucial to an accountable government.
- Throughout the chaos, our focus has been on protecting your privacy rights. We are demanding the closure of the data broker loophole and an end to backdoor searches. This reform can happen through FISA or outside of it.
- Any top intelligence official must commit to ending warrantless surveillance and protecting Americans' privacy rights. We will be watching Jay Clayton’s confirmation hearing closely (when it happens) to ensure Congress presses him on the important questions.
- MEANWHILE: Acting Director Bill Pulte has begun to wreak havoc with mass firings at the national intelligence office. We have made our opinion on Pulte clear: He is an unqualified, dangerous appointment. His actions are an urgent illustration of why Congress must pass legislation to protect your Fourth Amendment rights. There is too much room for abuse.
Census Matters: How the Census Shapes Funding for Children
(Illustration: Luna Velez / POGO)
A census miscount can influence where billions of dollars go. By POGO’s Janice Luong and Sean Moulton.
