With the current extension to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) expiring on April 19, CERL Advisory Council member George Croner analyzes the latest efforts by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Lee (R-UT) to reauthorize the foreign intelligence program but with significant reforms. In an opinion for Just Security, Croner explains why the bill they introduced last month—the Security and Freedom Enhancement (“SAFE”) Act of 2024—is flawed and leaves the United States vulnerable to foreign adversaries.

George W. Croner was the principal litigation counsel in the Office of General Counsel at the National Security Agency (NSA). He is a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) in its national security program and a member of CERL’s Advisory Council. You can follow him on Twitter (@GeorgeCroner) and find a list of his publications at FPRI.org. Read his full bio here.

The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of any organization or university.