NSA pick champions foreign spying law as nomination advances

President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the National Security Agency on Thursday repeatedly defended a mass foreign surveillance power that is weeks away from expiring without congressional action.

The testimony by Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd about the importance of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) could put him at loggerheads with the commander-in-chief and other national security officials, such as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has disparaged the foreign-spying power in the past.

“It’s indispensable. I know it’s been critical to mission outcomes, protection of our men and women in harm’s way, and I know it’s saved lives in the homeland,” Rudd, who is also the nominee to helm U.S. Cyber Command, told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

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