Conservatives threaten to sink FISA renewal as House Republicans battle over federal surveillance tool

Conservative privacy hawks in the House of Representatives are threatening to tank a chamber-wide vote on renewing a key government surveillance tool known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The fight to renew the program for five years is a major test for House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and his razor-thin majority, particularly as he faces heat from his right flank for apparently showing opposition to an amendment for additional warrant requirements for collection of U.S. citizens' data – something the intelligence community and its congressional allies have also opposed.

"I disagree with that. It's going to jeopardize the rule and the bill," warned Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., when asked about Johnson being against the warrant amendment.

Section 702 allows the federal government to surveil non-Americans on foreign soil with suspected terror links without a warrant, even if the person on the other side of their communications is an American.

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The House is expected to potentially advance a bill to renew it on Wednesday afternoon via a traditionally sleepy procedural hurdle known as a rule vote which, if passed, allows for debate before an eventual vote on the bill itself.

A rule vote would typically fall along party lines, with even lawmakers opposed to the bill voting in favor of allowing it to proceed if it was introduced by their own side. However, rule votes have been weaponized multiple times in this Congress, particularly by members of Johnson's right flank, to express opposition to the leadership's handling of an issue.

Multiple sources told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that