FISA Court Appoints Biden Disinformation Board Architect as Advisor

Jennifer Daskal, a key figure behind the controversial Disinformation Governance Board, has been appointed as a legal advisor to the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 6:47pm

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The secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) has officially appointed Jennifer Daskal, a key architect of the Biden administration's now-defunct 'Disinformation Governance Board,' as a legal advisor. Daskal, who previously served as acting principal deputy general counsel at the Department of Homeland Security, drafted the charter for the Disinformation Governance Board and hand-picked its controversial leader, Nina Jankowicz. The appointment has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers who see it as deeply troubling given Daskal's past involvement in a federal speech-monitoring regime.

Why it matters

The Disinformation Governance Board was widely criticized as a state-sanctioned censorship tool, with a mandate focused on 'disinformation' regarding the 2020 election, COVID-19 origins, and border security - areas where the administration sought to control the narrative. Now, Daskal's appointment to the FISA Court, which oversees sensitive intelligence-gathering operations, is raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of the court's oversight.

The details

According to a report from the Washington Free Beacon, the presiding judges of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review quietly appointed Jennifer Daskal to serve as an amicus curiae on February 1. This powerful role allows her to advise judges on complex legal matters tied to foreign surveillance warrants. Amici before the FISA Court are granted privileged access to some of the most sensitive legal arguments related to U.S. intelligence-gathering operations conducted under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

  • The FISA Court appointed Jennifer Daskal as an advisor on February 1, 2026.

The players

Jennifer Daskal

A key architect of the Biden administration's now-defunct 'Disinformation Governance Board,' who previously served as acting principal deputy general counsel at the Department of Homeland Security.

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC)

A secretive court that oversees sensitive intelligence-gathering operations conducted under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Chuck Grassley

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, who expressed concerns about the American people's confidence in the people tasked to serve as amici before the FISA Court.

Eric Schmitt

A U.S. Senator who previously grilled Jennifer Daskal during a 2022 hearing, calling her role in the Disinformation Governance Board 'shameful.'

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What they’re saying

“The American people need to have confidence in the people tasked to serve as amici before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.”

— Chuck Grassley, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman

“The presiding judges of the FISA Court just appointed Jennifer Daskal to advise the secretive court. She helped create the Biden Admin's Disinformation Governance Board. Insane. Yet another reason for reform.”

— Eric Schmitt, U.S. Senator

What’s next

The appointment of Jennifer Daskal to the FISA Court has sparked calls for reform of the secretive court, with lawmakers expressing concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of the court's oversight.

The takeaway

The appointment of Jennifer Daskal, a key figure behind the controversial Disinformation Governance Board, to the FISA Court has raised serious questions about the court's impartiality and the potential for abuse of power in the name of combating 'disinformation.' This move highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between national security and civil liberties, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the intelligence community.