Republicans in the Senate are split over a provision in last week’s spending package that would let senators sue the Justice Department over metadata collection. Sen. Steve Daines called the language "appropriate," while Sen. Rand Paul said it appears unpopular and warned the chamber may have to revisit it if the House removes it. Susan Collins denied involvement and credited negotiations between John Thune and Chuck Schumer, who said Democrats sought protections for their senators.
Senate Rift: Republicans Divided Over Provision Letting Senators Sue DOJ for Metadata Collection
Republicans in the Senate are split over a provision in last week’s spending package that would let senators sue the Justice Department over metadata collection. Sen. Steve Daines called the language "appropriate," while Sen. Rand Paul said it appears unpopular and warned the chamber may have to revisit it if the House removes it. Susan Collins denied involvement and credited negotiations between John Thune and Chuck Schumer, who said Democrats sought protections for their senators.
03:25 PM, 11/19/2025Politics
Senate Republicans are divided over language added to last week’s spending agreement that would allow individual senators to sue the Department of Justice over its collection of metadata. The sudden insertion has prompted debate about its purpose, political effects and whether it should stand.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) defended the provision as "appropriate" and expressed doubt that a repeal would clear the Senate. By contrast, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said the measure "certainly looks like it’s pretty unpopular" and warned the chamber may need to act if the House strips the language, possibly as soon as today.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she had no role in drafting the text and attributed it to negotiations between Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Schumer said Thune had sought the provision and is now pushing to repeal it, while Democrats "wanted to make sure that at least Democratic senators were protected from [Attorney General Pam] Bondi and others who might go after them."
The dispute underscores broader tensions over oversight of surveillance practices and how carve-outs for lawmakers are negotiated in larger spending bills. If the House removes the language, the Senate could face a quick, contentious choice about whether to restore or abandon the provision.
What to watch next: Whether the House acts to strip the language and how Senate leaders respond — through floor votes or negotiations — will determine if the provision remains part of the final spending package.