A critical foreign surveillance program is at risk of expiring this week after bipartisan opposition to President Donald Trump's intelligence nominee derailed extension efforts in Congress.

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, set to lapse June 12, allows agencies including the CIA, National Security Agency and FBI to collect communications from foreign targets overseas without a warrant. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prepare for "a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection" if the authority expires.

The extension effort collapsed after Trump selected federal housing finance regulator Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence. Early Friday morning, seven Republicans joined nearly all Democrats in blocking a long-term extension of the surveillance authority. Senators from both parties questioned Pulte's qualifications, arguing he lacks experience needed to oversee the nation's 18 intelligence agencies.

"He's not qualified for the long-term position," said Republican Sen. James Lankford, a member of the Intelligence Committee. "He has no national security background." Critics also pointed to Pulte's record at the Federal Housing Finance Agency, where he has been linked to criminal referrals over mortgage fraud allegations against officials Trump sought to punish, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff.

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said he sees no path to renewal with Pulte in position. Republicans need Democratic support to pass any extension in the Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged concerns about the timing but said Pulte's selection should not derail the important surveillance tool.

The current debate echoes previous battles over the program, which has faced criticism over government misuse of collected intelligence. The program barely avoided expiring in 2024 when the Senate approved reauthorization by a 60-34 margin just past a midnight deadline. Cotton and Warner had indicated they were close to a bipartisan deal before the Pulte nomination disrupted negotiations.