Conservative lawmakers like Reps. Bob Good, Matt Gaetz and Ralph Norman all foreshadowed issues if the FISA bill hits the House floor. (Getty Images)
The House is expected to potentially advance a bill to renew it on Wednesday afternoon via a traditionally sleepy procedural hurdle known as a rule vote, which if passed allows for debate before an eventual vote on the bill itself.
A rule vote would typically fall along party lines, with even lawmakers opposed to the bill voting in favor of allowing it to proceed if it was introduced by their own side. However, rule votes have been weaponized multiple times in this Congress, particularly by members of Johnson's right flank, to express opposition to the leadership's handling of an issue.
Multiple sources told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that Johnson said he was against additional warrant requirements for collecting data of American citizens that were sought by privacy hawks – just as the House is set to consider a Judiciary Committee-backed amendment on the issue.
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"He said he was going to come out publicly against it," a GOP lawmaker said when asked about his conversations with Johnson about the amendment. "That would effectively kill 702, if that passed."
On the other side of the argument, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good, R-Va., told Fox News Digital, "It is my understanding that he is against [the amendment.]"
"I think he's mistaken, I think he's wrong," Good said. He would not say whether he'd vote for the rule on Wednesday, saying instead, "I think everything is on the table to protect Americans' constitutional liberties."
Rep. Nancy Mace told Fox News Digital, "The rule is going to be tanked" (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
The fight over Section 702’s renewal has been among the most bitter that House Republicans have had to contend with. The current process is House GOP leaders’ third attempt at the tool’s renewal before the April 19 deadline.
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who is threatening to potentially force a vote on ousting Johnson from power, has criticized how he's handled FISA reform, among other issues like Ukraine and government spending.
"It's shocking. You know, if he calls himself a conservative, I don't know how he can be against stronger warrant mandates for the FISA reauthorization," Greene told Fox News Digital, adding that she's not made a decision on how she would vote on the rule.
Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson's office for comment on GOP hardliners' pushback and his stance on the warrant amendment, but did not immediately hear back.
With the current makeup of the House, Johnson can only afford to lose at most two Republican votes – at full attendance – to still pass a bill along party lines.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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