In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives blocked an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), one of the government’s most powerful intelligence-gathering tools, which was set to expire the same day.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called the vote “shameful and dangerous,” accusing Democrats of choosing to “jeopardize the safety and security of the American people.” Johnson expressed disbelief that Democratic leadership was “willing to allow the number one national security tool to go dark over some political disagreement over a very short-term temporary appointment.” The expiration of the surveillance authority raises immediate questions about ongoing intelligence operations, particularly given the active military situation in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon was briefly evacuated after a false alarm over a suspected “incident with hazardous materials,” adding an additional note of chaos to an already turbulent day in the U.S. capital.
