Speaker Johnson Says Spying Authority ‘Must Be Dramatically Reformed’

‘We’re working toward consensus, but this is a very, very serious matter,’ Mr. Johnson said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 12, 2023. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Dec. 12 said that a controversial spying authority “must be dramatically reformed,” but failed to take sides in an ongoing dispute over the matter between two powerful House committees.

The authority in question, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), is designed to allow U.S. intelligence officials to gather information on foreign agents working outside the United States.