Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, warned on Newsmax Monday that the lapse of a key U.S. surveillance authority has created a dangerous intelligence gap, arguing that Congress' failure to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act could hinder efforts to detect foreign threats targeting the United States.

Speaking on "Wake Up America," Nunn, a former cyber intelligence officer and vice chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, said intelligence officials rely on the authority to identify and track foreign adversaries, including potential terrorists operating inside the United States.

"America is facing its largest security window on the 250th birthday of America," Nunn said, citing ongoing and upcoming events including the FIFA World Cup and America250 celebrations.

"Our men and women, including those in the intelligence services who are overseas right now, our troops who are on the front lines, depend on an intelligence collection system that actually lets us know where foreign threat actors are," he added.

Section 702, a provision of FISA, allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications of non-Americans located abroad without obtaining individual warrants. Intelligence officials have long argued the authority is one of the government's most valuable tools for counterterrorism and counterintelligence operations, while critics have raised concerns about incidental collection of Americans' communications and potential privacy violations.

The authority expired June 12 after the House and Senate failed to approve either a long-term renewal or a temporary extension. The standoff emerged amid Democrat opposition tied to President Donald Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, as well as broader disagreements over surveillance reforms.

Nunn blamed Democrats for the lapse.

"For Democrats to turn down FISA and use it as a leverage point over the president … and then to leave town with no coverage for our intelligence officers, this creates a real threat gap here," Nunn said. "It puts our public and our private partners at risk here."

He pointed specifically to telecommunications companies that assist intelligence collection efforts.

"The AT&T, the Verizon, the telecommunications of the world not being able to hand over documents of foreign terrorists or foreign entities operating around the globe," Nunn said, warning that losing access to such information "makes America less safe."

Nunn also emphasized that he supports reforms designed to protect Americans' civil liberties.

"I made 50 reforms to FISA last year that I have fought for as an intelligence officer," he said. "I don't want warrantless wiretaps on U.S. citizens, but I do want foreigners who are operating and threatening the United States to be held accountable."

Responding to criticism from Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who suggested Trump wanted the surveillance authority to expire so he could blame Democrats if a security incident occurs, Nunn said, "I could not disagree more," arguing that House Republicans had already advanced reforms that protected Americans while preserving intelligence collection capabilities.

"The reality is we had an opportunity to do what the House did and move forward with an intelligence collection that made sense, that protected American citizens, that didn't have warrantless … search warrants against folks."

He added, "And it was the Democrats who decided to leave town. It was the Democrats who came forward and said, 'Unless we get the [Director of National Intelligence] that we pick, we're not going to support anything.' It was the Democrats who voted against an extension, even a short-term extension, so we could protect things like the World Cup, like America's 250th birthday."

Nunn continued, "And tragically, it's the Democrats who have left not only our military troops, our intelligence collection operations, but Americans here at home in a worse place by not moving anything forward, leaving, going overseas, many of them, and then expecting it to get solved when it's convenient for them when they get back from their recess. That's unacceptable."

Nunn also expressed support for reports that Trump is considering an executive order as a temporary measure to preserve Section 702 authorities. Trump recently said he would support an extension only if Congress also advances the SAVE America Act and has suggested executive action could serve as a stopgap while lawmakers continue negotiations.

"I think this is a stopgap, but it provides the legal shielding we need," Nunn said. "I don't want any American to be harmed as a result of Democrats or Republicans in D.C. who didn't do their job."

GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:

NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!

Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.

You need to watch NEWSMAX today.

Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!

Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now

BEST OFFER:

Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.

Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.

Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!

Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.

Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!

Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com