Ex-GOP Rep. Warns Congressional Black Caucus Helping Mike Johnson, 'Demand a Warrant'

Amash says Johnson is relying on Rep. Gregory Meeks and the CBC to reauthorize FISA 702 without warrant requirement

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:34pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a solitary government office desk with a single desk lamp casting warm, diagonal light and deep shadows, conceptually representing the quiet, bureaucratic power struggles over surveillance laws.The debate over FISA 702 reauthorization exposes the tension between national security and civil liberties, as lawmakers wrestle with the balance of power and oversight.Chicago Today

Former GOP U.S. Representative Justin Amash is warning Americans that House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is relying on the help of Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, and the Congressional Black Caucus to pass a reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702 without a warrant requirement. Amash argues that allowing warrantless surveillance of Americans' communications is a betrayal of the Constitution.

Why it matters

FISA Section 702 allows the government to conduct warrantless surveillance of non-Americans located outside the U.S. to gather foreign intelligence. However, this can also 'incidentally' collect communications of U.S. persons, raising privacy concerns. Amash is concerned that the Congressional Black Caucus may be supporting this reauthorization, which could empower the government to spy on Americans without a warrant.

The details

FISA Section 702 was reauthorized in April 2024 until April 2026. While critics cite the 'backdoor search loophole' to access Americans' data, supporters deem it vital for national security. In 2020, when Amash was still a member of Congress, he co-sponsored an amendment to the reauthorization bill that would have required the government to seek a warrant based on probable cause before searching surveillance data for information about Americans. The amendment received bipartisan support but ultimately failed.

  • FISA Section 702 was reauthorized in April 2024 until April 2026.
  • In 2020, Amash co-sponsored an amendment to the FISA 702 reauthorization bill that would have required a warrant.

The players

Justin Amash

A former Republican U.S. Representative from Michigan who opposed the GOP nomination of Donald Trump in 2016 and was the first Republican member of Congress to call for Trump's impeachment.

Mike Johnson

The current Republican House Speaker from Louisiana.

Gregory Meeks

A Democratic U.S. Representative from New York and the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Congressional Black Caucus

A group of African-American members of the United States Congress.

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What they’re saying

“Is it true that @RepGregoryMeeks and Congressional Black Caucus leaders are whipping votes to help Mike Johnson pass a clean FISA 702 reauthorization? Anyone who empowers Donald Trump—or any president—to spy on Americans without a warrant is betraying the Constitution and the people they serve. The Fourth Amendment isn't optional. Demand a warrant requirement.”

— Justin Amash, Former GOP U.S. Representative

What’s next

The House is expected to vote on the FISA 702 reauthorization bill in the coming weeks. Amash is urging the public to contact their representatives and demand that any reauthorization include a warrant requirement to protect Americans' privacy rights.

The takeaway

This debate over FISA 702 reauthorization highlights the ongoing tension between national security and civil liberties. While supporters argue the law is vital for intelligence gathering, critics contend it allows unconstitutional warrantless surveillance of Americans. Amash's warning suggests the Congressional Black Caucus may be willing to compromise on this issue, raising concerns about the potential for abuse of government power.