FISA spy program at risk over Trump’s pick of Pulte for director of national intelligence

President Donald Trump's selection of Bill Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence has sparked a political standoff. Democrats threaten to block the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) unless Pulte is replaced, risking an unprecedented lapse in the surveillance program as its authorization expires. Congressional leaders from both parties are pressuring Trump to nominate a permanent replacement.