President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is delaying the nomination of federal prosecutor Jay Clayton to lead the U.S. intelligence community. Trump stated the delay is an effort to pressure Congress to pass a voter ID bill that currently lacks the legislative support needed for passage.

Surveillance Program Tied to Voter ID Bill

The decision leaves the long-term leadership of the 18-agency intelligence community unresolved and delays the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which expired last week amid bipartisan pushback. The tool allows spy agencies to collect the communications of targeted foreigners outside the United States without a warrant. National security officials from both major parties state the program is vital for disrupting terror attacks and espionage, while civil liberties advocates and some lawmakers raise concerns about the incidental collection of Americans’ data.

Trump explicitly tied his support for the surveillance program to the passage of the “Save America Act,” which requires voters to show identification. The Republican-controlled Congress has not acted on the voting bill due to insufficient support in both chambers, particularly from Democrats.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.