House Scrambles to Host Olympic Gold Medalists as Bipartisan Coalition Challenges Trump Surveillance Powers

Speaker Johnson navigates logistics for gold medal hockey teams at the State of the Union while a bipartisan Senate duo challenges Trump on FISA surveillance.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 24, 2026, 4:13 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

Logistical Challenges for Olympic Honors at the Capitol

Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed on Monday that House officials are working rapidly to accommodate the gold medal winning U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams for the State of the Union address. The invitation, extended personally by President Donald Trump following the men’s overtime victory against Canada in Milan, has created a unique set of logistical hurdles. Because the address is a formal session of Congress, guests are prohibited from the House floor, forcing officials to find alternative ways to recognize the athletes.

Johnson suggested that the teams might be positioned in the gallery to receive a formal introduction and applause from lawmakers. While the President offered a military jet to transport the men's team to Washington, the women’s team has officially declined the invitation. A spokesperson cited previous academic and professional commitments as the reason for their absence, though they expressed sincere gratitude for the recognition of their achievement.

Bipartisan Push to Rein in Federal Surveillance

A significant legislative challenge to the Trump administration emerged Monday as Senators Mike Lee and Dick Durbin introduced a bill to place new limits on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The program, which allows for the collection of communications from non U.S. citizens abroad, is up for reauthorization by April 20. The administration is pushing for a clean extension, but the Lee Durbin bill seeks to mandate warrants before the intelligence community can access communications involving American citizens.

Senator Lee characterized the current use of FISA as a "blatant disregard for individual liberties," citing documented abuses involving journalists and members of Congress. Senator Durbin echoed these concerns, labeling the thousands of warrantless searches of American private communications as "unacceptable." The bill has gained additional bipartisan support from Senators Kevin Cramer and Mazie Hirono, signaling a difficult path for the White House’s preferred 18 month extension.