Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) introduced an ambitious legislative proposal on May 7, 2025, titled the American Privacy Restoration Act, whose main objective is to fully repeal the Patriot Act, in effect since October 2001. The measure comes amid growing public discontent over documented government surveillance abuses.

With this initiative, Luna aims to curb what she describes as “deep state overreach,” while reigniting a long-standing debate over the balance between national security and civil liberties. In official statements, the congresswoman asserted that surveillance tools have been misused for personal agendas, political manipulation, and intrusions into the lives of innocent citizens. “This abuse must end,” Luna declared, also sharing a Breitbart News graphic emphasizing her intent to dismantle warrantless spying structures.

The Patriot Act was passed in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks as a tool to strengthen counterterrorism capabilities. However, critics have long warned that many of its provisions—such as Section 215—enabled the government to collect vast amounts of data from citizens, including phone records and internet activity, without a warrant. Civil liberties groups have raised concerns that these practices violate constitutional protections, particularly those under the Fourth Amendment.

A 2024 report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reinforced these concerns by revealing that over three-quarters of so-called “sneak and peek” search orders were used in cases unrelated to terrorism, such as drug investigations. It also highlighted the use of National Security Letters (NSLs), which allow access to private data without judicial approval—an authority lawmakers attempted to expand in 2023 through amendments to the Senate intelligence bill.

Luna’s proposal also draws inspiration from earlier legislative efforts, such as the Fourth Amendment Restoration Act introduced during the 117th Congress, which sought to require judicial warrants for domestic surveillance and repeal provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Although several key provisions of the Patriot Act expired in 2020, the intelligence community has continued operations through other legal channels—something Luna’s bill aims to prohibit once and for all.

Criticism of political misuse of surveillance is not new. During Donald Trump’s administration, Attorney General William Barr authorized the use of counterterrorism forces to monitor protests against police violence. According to the ACLU, fusion centers in several states have also mischaracterized social and religious activists as threats, further fueling calls for deep reform of the national intelligence system.

Despite Luna’s momentum and support from conservative and libertarian sectors, the future of the bill remains uncertain. It is expected to face opposition from national security figures who argue that surveillance tools are still essential to counter modern threats. Nonetheless, the debate around privacy and government transparency has gained momentum across the political spectrum.

“Warrantless surveillance has no place in a constitutional democracy,” Luna stated in her press release. “This bill is a crucial step toward restoring the public’s trust in its institutions.” Citizens can learn more about the bill’s full content on the congresswoman’s official website.