— One iconic athlete on why she decided to un-retire. Meanwhile, we’re trying to retire early.
US News
The Intelligence Shake-Up
What's going on: The people in charge of America’s intelligence agencies are having a moment. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump appointed housing official Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. This was not a popular move. Members of both parties called Pulte inexperienced and “a national security threat.” This week, House Democrats and some Republicans voted to let one of the country’s most powerful surveillance tools — Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) — expire, saying they wouldn’t pass an extension as long as Pulte was slated for the top role. Hours later, Trump announced a far more conventional pick for the permanent role: Jay Clayton, the current US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Calling Clayton “very highly respected” in a Truth Social post, Trump urged the Senate to confirm him ASAP.
The impact on surveillance: This isn’t just about Pulte. Section 702 allows the government to spy on foreigners abroad through electronic service providers who give access to communication; intelligence agencies use it to track terrorism suspects, foreign spies, and adversarial governments. But critics have long said that it needs reform — in part because citizens’ communications can be surveilled if they’re in touch with foreign targets. The debate has also revived broader questions about the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which was established in response to 9/11. All this means that Clayton's confirmation fight is likely to double as a referendum on Trump’s appointee choices, the role of acting officials, and whether post-9/11 security measures should remain.
