The House of Representatives narrowly approved a contentious surveillance bill Wednesday after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) managed to quell an internal Republican revolt that had threatened to stall several key pieces of legislation. The vote, held amid escalating tensions within the GOP conference, underscores the challenges Johnson faces in maintaining control over a slim and fractious majority.

The legislation extends a warrantless surveillance program under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for an additional three years. This provision allows the U.S. government to collect communications—such as texts, emails, and phone calls—of foreigners overseas from American telecommunications companies without obtaining warrants. Supporters, including intelligence officials and members of the Trump administration, argue the program is vital for national security, citing its role in hostage rescues and preventing terrorist attacks.

However, the bill encountered staunch resistance from both Republicans and Democrats concerned about potential civil liberties infringements. Critics, including members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, warn that the program could inadvertently capture data on U.S. citizens communicating with foreign individuals, raising privacy concerns. Some Democrats fear the law could be exploited for political surveillance, though administration officials have disputed claims of abuse. President Donald Trump, despite past criticisms of FISA, has defended the program as critical to military and intelligence operations.

The vote on the surveillance extension passed 235-191 after an initial GOP revolt nearly blocked a procedural motion to begin debate on the bill and two others, including a budget measure to fund parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and legislation affecting U.S. farm policy. At one point, seven Republicans indicated opposition, but Johnson’s intervention and a procedural compromise on the farm bill led all Republicans ultimately to support the motion.

The budget measure aims to restart funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through a process that avoids Democratic approval, responding to Trump’s directive to complete funding negotiations by June. DHS has been operating without new funding for over two months, with the program’s expiration imminent on Thursday.

The farm bill also proved divisive within the GOP, particularly over a provision protecting pesticide manufacturers like Bayer from lawsuits. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) threatened to block the bill unless the provision was removed but later agreed to support it after assurances she would influence its final language. Additional amendments proposed by other Republicans sought to allow year-round sales of gasoline containing up to 15 percent ethanol.

Johnson acknowledged the difficulty of managing a conference divided by regional and ideological differences amid one of the narrowest House majorities in U.S. history. “You have very different opinions about all of these things across the conference from different regions of the country,” he stated. “Our job in leadership is to get everybody together and work through it.”

Democrats criticized GOP leadership for pushing legislation rapidly through the House Rules Committee without securing broad party consensus. Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) accused Republicans of rushing bills to the floor, reflecting ongoing partisan tensions and skepticism about the stability of the Republican majority as midterm elections approach.

The surveillance bill now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to face continued debate as lawmakers weigh national security interests against privacy concerns. Meanwhile, efforts to resolve funding for the remainder of DHS remain stalled, with Johnson signaling further revisions are necessary before that measure can advance.