The USA Freedom Act has failed in the Senate, stalling an effort to reform certain federal surveillance programs before an end-of-the-month deadline ends the government’s ability to collect the phone records of Americans.
During a Senate vote on Friday, the bill was rejected by a vote
of 57-42. It had previously been passed in the House of
Representatives with overwhelming success.
Had lawmakers approved the Freedom Act, the bulk collection of
Americans’ telephone records, as conducted by the government
under a controversial interpretation of Section 215 of the
Patriot Act, would have been limited by new restrictions.
The “USA Patriot Act” as a whole also fell short of
being adopted, with the Senate voting 45-54. A total of 60 votes
in favor were needed to advance the measure.