PROTECT AMERICANS’ PRIVACY: NO BILL PULTE AND NO WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE OF AMERICANS
QUICK READ: To weaponize national intelligence, Trump just appointed Bill Pulte, his ludicrously unqualified and massively dangerous political attack dog, Acting Director of National Intelligence. Congress must refuse to even consider reauthorizing FISA Section 702, one of our most objectionable and widely abused surveillance policies, which Trump badly wants, until Pulte’s removed and the statute is amended to protect Americans from warrantless surveillance by eliminating “backdoor searches” and the “data broker loophole.”
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Last Tuesday Trump appointed his political attack dog, Bill Pulte, as acting Director of National Intelligence, despite his complete lack of statutorily required national experience and the GAO’s ongoing investigation of his abuse of power—allowing him to serve for 210 days without Senate confirmation. As DNI he can weaponize America’s 18 intelligence agencies against Trump’s political enemies and interfere in various nefarious ways in the midterms.
While Congress has little ability to block acting directors, that FISA Section 702, one of our most objectionable and widely abused surveillance policies, which Trump very much wants re-authorized, will otherwise expire on June 12 gives it massive power over Pulte’s future.
Passed in 2008 as a counterterrorism measure facilitating warrantless surveillance of overseas foreigners’ communications, federal agencies have also widely used it to spy on American journalists, political commentators, protesters, political campaign doners and members of Congress s whose “incidentally collected” calls, texts, and emails have been subjected to millions of warrantless “backdoor” searches. Together with these agencies’ abuse of the data broker loophole, which allows them to buy sensitive private information from data collection companies rather than seeking a warrant, these practices drive a giant loophole through the Fourth Amendment and threaten core civil liberties, like freedom of speech and association.
Renewal becomes even more controversial, given Trump’s push for the unfettered use of AI, labeling those opposing his agenda as “domestic terrorists”, and DHS’ improper data collection on protestors, community observers, and immigrants it's seeking to deport–making congressional reform imperative.
Our MoCs must refuse to consider the statute’s reauthorization until Pulte is ousted and approve only an amended statute containing real privacy protections.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Keep refusing to even consider reauthorization until Pulte’s been removed and only vote for reauthorization if real privacy protections are added. Congress must close the “data broker loophole” and end warrantless “backdoor searches” to prevent Trump from surveilling people and organizations who oppose his illegal and unconstitutional policies.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Keep refusing to even consider reauthorization until Pulte’s been removed and only vote for reauthorization if real privacy protections are added. Congress must close the “data broker loophole” and end warrantless “backdoor searches” to prevent Trump from surveilling people and organizations who oppose his illegal and unconstitutional policies.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Your constituents are opposed to the government’s unfettered spying on US citizens, and I’ll be watching your vote closely.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Keep refusing to even consider reauthorization until Pulte’s been removed and only vote for reauthorization if real privacy protections are added. Congress must close the “data broker loophole” and end warrantless “backdoor searches” to prevent Trump from surveilling people and organizations who oppose his illegal and unconstitutional policies.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
All Members of Congress swore to uphold the Constitution when they We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Your constituents are opposed to the government’s unfettered spying on US citizens, and I’ll be watching your vote closely.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Keep refusing to even consider reauthorization until Pulte’s been removed and only vote for reauthorization if real privacy protections are added. Congress must close the “data broker loophole” and end warrantless “backdoor searches” to prevent Trump from surveilling people and organizations who oppose his illegal and unconstitutional policies.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Keep refusing to even consider reauthorization until Pulte’s been removed and only vote for reauthorization if real privacy protections are added. Congress must close the “data broker loophole” and end warrantless “backdoor searches” to prevent Trump from surveilling people and organizations who oppose his illegal and unconstitutional policies.
Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Oregon City office: 503-387-8651 |DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Keep refusing to even consider reauthorization until Pulte’s been removed and only vote for reauthorization if real privacy protections are added. Congress must close the “data broker loophole” and end warrantless “backdoor searches” to prevent Trump from surveilling people and organizations who oppose his illegal and unconstitutional policies.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
We cannot let the man who used housing oversight to target Trump’s “enemies” get control over the agencies that investigate terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, immigration enforcement, federal crimes, and national security threats. Trump’s weaponization of national intelligence makes Section 702’s amendment even more necessary. Keep refusing to even consider reauthorization until Pulte’s been removed and only vote for reauthorization if real privacy protections are added. Congress must close the “data broker loophole” and end warrantless “backdoor searches” to prevent Trump from surveilling people and organizations who oppose his illegal and unconstitutional policies.
FURTHER READING
Spy-power deal is latest Hill casualty of Trump’s impetuous decision making
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Explained
GOP Leadership Proposal Would Expand the Government’s Ability to Use Section 702 Against Americans
Privacy hawks rail against Senate FISA proposal with 3-year CBDC ban
Pulte’s pick to lead national intelligence further jeopardizes renewal of warrantless spy powers
Trump’s New Intel Head Is Worse than Unqualified
Trump chooses an unqualified director of national intelligence
7 Things To Know About Trump’s Ridiculous New MAGA Intel Chief
