Biden signs RISAA, reauthorizing Section 702 without warrant requirement and expanding surveillance to equipment custodians

President Biden signed the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act on April 20, 2024, reauthorizing Section 702 of FISA through April 2026. The bill controversially expanded the definition of who could be compelled to assist NSA collection — adding "custodians" of equipment used to transmit or store communications, which critics argued could include hotel workers, janitors, or IT contractors. A Senate amendment to require warrants for FBI searches of Section 702 data failed 42-50. The law gave Section 702 a two-year sunset, setting up the 2026 reauthorization battle.