White House backs bill that would end NSA bulk collection of phone records

The Obama Administration is urging lawmakers to pass a bipartisan bill that would end the National Security Agency’s mass collection of Americans’ phone records.

The White House’s support for the USA Freedom Act, which preserves the government’s ability to obtain more limited amounts of records, comes as the House is expected to pass it on May 13. That sets up a showdown in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is backing another bill that would maintain the NSA program of mass collection and renew it through 2020. The attorney general and the director of national intelligence are expected to issue soon a letter of support for the USA Freedom Act, saying that they do not think it will undermine national security while its proposed reforms will enhance Americans’ privacy.