Trump’s FISA Ultimatum Draws Sharp Rebuke from Senator Elissa Slotkin

As Section 702 of FISA teeters on the brink of expiration, Senator Elissa Slotkin warns that President Trump’s threat to block reauthorization unless his voting bill passes risks both national security and democratic norms.

</div>

A High-Stakes Power Play

President Trump has linked renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to passage of his controversial SAVE America Act—legislation mandating proof of citizenship for voter registration and restrictions on mail-in ballots. He declared he would oppose any FISA reauthorization absent that bill, triggering alarm among both national security and civil liberties advocates.

Slotkin’s Sharp Rebuke

On June 18, 2026, Senator Elissa Slotkin (D‑Mich.)—a former CIA analyst—called Trump’s threat “cutting off your nose to spite your face,” arguing that installing Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence risks politicizing the intelligence community. She warned that Pulte might be used to target political opponents, further undermining trust in surveillance institutions.