The US House of Representatives has narrowly voted to continue collecting data on US phone calls in the first legislative move on the programme.
In a 217-205 vote, lawmakers rejected an effort to restrict the National Security Agency's (NSA) ability to collect electronic information. The NSA's chief had lobbied strongly against the proposed measure.
The vote saw an unusual coalition of conservatives and liberal Democrats against the programme.
Critics say NSA phone data collection is an unwarranted invasion of privacy.
The details of the programme were made public by Edward Snowden, who had worked for America's electronic spying agency.
He is now a fugitive, awaiting a decision on his asylum application in Moscow.
The US Senate voted to confirm Jay Clayton as the director of national intelligence on Tuesday,...
The Senate judiciary committee has postponed a vote, scheduled for Thursday, on the nomination of Todd...
The House on Thursday approved a resolution to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, in...
