Gosar Refuses to Vote to Reauthorize Spy Legislation

This week I voted against advancing reauthorization of spy legislation known as FISA because it fails the most basic duty of government: protecting Americans’ rights first. Despite months of efforts by other concerned conservative Members of Congress and me to improve the bill, the legislation brought to the floor for a vote in the wee hours of the night still allowed federal agencies to access Americans’ communications without a warrant. That is a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment and, if passed, ignored the changes I insisted be included in order to earn my support. FISA was meant to target foreign threats, yet it continues to sweep up U.S. citizens’ data. Without a clear warrant requirement, this is not reform—it’s a rubber stamp for abuse. I will not support warrantless surveillance of Americans, hard stop. The bill also ignored a critical issue: banning a central bank digital currency (CBDC). A CBDC would enable government monitoring and control of digital currency transactions. Combined with existing surveillance powers, it raises serious concerns about federal overreach. Congress had the chance to stop it and chose not to. The process was just as troubling. This vote was pushed in the dead of night, when scrutiny is lowest. Nothing good happens after midnight in Washington, D.C. —especially when expanding government power. Rushing a complex surveillance bill at 2 AM undermines accountability and transparency. As many of you know, I have opposed reauthorizing FISA since my first years in Congress. As I said in 2018: “In 2011, I was told to support FISA reauthorization because government agents had learned their lesson and would never abuse their power again. They said the same in 2012—and again in 2013, 2014, and every year after. You get the point. Nothing has changed.” Americans deserve better than backroom deals and late-night votes on laws affecting their fundamental freedoms. Until there is a real warrant requirement, a clear ban on a surveillance-state CBDC, and a transparent process, I will continue to oppose FISA reauthorization. Protecting Americans—and their freedom—is not negotiable.