Congress has approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies just days before it was set to expire. A bill extending the program until April 30 cleared the Senate by voice vote Friday as Congress raced to send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. Lawmakers turned to a short-term extension of the program after an attempt to pass a five-year renewal failed in a late-night House vote. The short-term fix sets the stage for another showdown in a matter of weeks. The program permits key national security agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant.

U.S. officials and members of Congress say President Donald Trump has abruptly fired the director of the National Security Agency. The White House and the Pentagon have provided no reasons for the action. Officials say senior military leaders were informed Thursday of the firing of Air Force Gen. Tim Haugh, who also oversaw the Pentagon's Cyber Command. The officials say they received no advance notice about the decision to remove a four-star general with a 33-year career in intelligence and cyber operations. The move has triggered sharp criticism from members of Congress and marks the latest dismissal of national security officials by the Republican president. It's unclear who's now in charge of the NSA and the Cyber Command.

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) — Russia's war in Ukraine and anti-regime protests in Iran limited both Moscow and Tehran's ability to try to influence o…