The so-called 702 authority was put in place after the 9/11 attacks. Although controversial, officials from Democratic and Republican administrations have argued the eavesdropping tool is vital to counterterrorism and counterespionage efforts and has saved lives — an argument echoed by Trump’s own White House. Americans cannot be the subject of 702 surveillance, but can be picked up in the surveillance of foreign targets. Until that tweet, the Trump administration had strongly pressed Congress to extend the authority, before it lapses on January 19. Just hours before Trump’s tweet, the White House had urged lawmakers to oppose new rules that advocates say could gut the program.

Source: The Guardian January 11, 2018 15:45 UTC