Tennessee senators face growing pressure over surveillance damages clause

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s two U.S. senators are facing mounting scrutiny as the political fallout from a controversial surveillance-related damages provision continues to escalate. Sen. Bill Hagerty issued a second public statement on Thursday, while Sen. Marsha Blackburn has remained silent since earlier comments, even as Rep. John Rose — who is challenging Blackburn in the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary — has emerged as one of the House’s loudest voices demanding its repeal.

The provision, included in the November continuing resolution, allowed eight Republican senators to sue the federal government over warrantless phone-record access tied to the FBI’s Arctic Frost investigation. Although all involved lawmakers have said they would not seek taxpayer-funded damages, the language drew swift condemnation across party lines for appearing to grant senators a legal remedy unavailable to the public.

Hagerty, who was among the senators covered by the clause, attempted to contain the controversy Thursday by stressing that he would not pursue damages and calling for the Senate to “fix the appearance” that lawmakers were voting to benefit themselves. His follow-up statement came one day after the House voted 426-0 to repeal the provision, an uncommon show of unity that sharpened the spotlight on the Senate’s role.

Blackburn, who previously said she supported removing the clause and would seek only a declaratory judgment, has not commented publicly since the House repeal passed. Her social media posts this week have focused on unrelated issues, including border security, crime and federal oversight, while the Senate’s next steps remain unclear.

Rose, meanwhile, has leaned into the issue, giving multiple interviews and statements urging the Senate to adopt the House’s reversal. His prominence in the repeal effort has drawn attention within Republican circles given his ongoing gubernatorial challenge to Blackburn. The contrast between Rose’s aggressive posture and Blackburn’s silence has become a notable subplot in the broader dispute.

The Senate has not announced when or whether it will take up the repeal measure.