In committee
Government Surveillance Reform Act of 2026
This bill requires federal agencies to obtain a search warrant before accessing Americans' communications, location records, web browsing history, and search queries, even if that information is purchased from commercial data brokers or gathered during overseas surveillance. It establishes stricter limits on searches of foreign intelligence databases that contain Americans' data, mandating narrow emergency exceptions and independent privacy experts at secret surveillance court proceedings. In addition, the legislation reauthorizes foreign intelligence surveillance under Section 702 through April 2030 while reversing recent expansions of which private businesses can be forced to assist federal spy programs.
People affected—While the bill broadly regulates the electronic communications and surveillance data of U.S. persons and individuals nationwide, no specific population count is stated in the operative text.
Fiscal magnitude—The bill contains no specific appropriations, authorization dollar figures, or direct fee schedules in the provided text.
Reach82provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- U.S. persons and electronic communications usersGain privacy protections requiring government agencies to obtain probable cause warrants before querying Section 702 surveillance data for their communications, accessing stored emails, location data, web browsing history, search records, or vehicle event data recorders, and prohibiting warrantless federal purchases of their personal records from commercial data brokers.
- Online and electronic communication service providersAre freed from surveillance directives issued under the 2024 expanded service provider definition, which the bill repeals and voids, and receive standard warrant requirements before being compelled to disclose customer communications, location data, or browsing records.
- Intelligence community personnelReceive statutory whistleblower protection against workplace retaliation when reporting suspected waste, fraud, abuse, or legal violations to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.
- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court amici curiaeGain expanded appointments in Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court proceedings involving significant civil liberties or technical issues, along with broader statutory access to court materials and case records.
- Intelligence community agenciesTitle VII of FISA and Section 702 collection authorities are extended through April 20, 2030, preserving statutory surveillance programs.
Who it burdens
- Federal law enforcement and intelligence agenciesFace strict new warrant requirements for querying Section 702 data on covered persons, accessing stored emails and electronic records, retrieving vehicle recorder data, and collecting location/browsing history, while being prohibited from purchasing bulk commercial personal datasets without court authorization.
- Department of Justice and intelligence oversight bodiesMust establish mandatory accuracy procedures for FISA applications, conduct audits of Section 702 directives and applications, enforce five-year retention caps on unevaluated foreign data, and publicly report surveillance metrics and First Amendment review findings.
Who opposes it
- Commercial data brokersThe bill directly restricts federal agencies from purchasing personal customer records, location data, or web browsing histories from commercial data brokers without a court order or warrant, curtailing commercial data sales to the government.