Tallahassee, June 23, 2023. The passage of the Patriot Act in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks marked a significant expansion of the United States government’s surveillance powers. The Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF) firmly believes that it is time to reevaluate the necessity and impact of this legislation. The LPF commends US Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) for his efforts to introduce a bill aimed at ending the Patriot Act and the FISA Amendments Act of 2008.

The Patriot Act, signed into law by former President George W. Bush in the aftermath of 9/11, was claimed by the US government as a way to enhance national security by enabling the government to monitor communications for potential terrorist activities. Steube and the LPF maintain that the act’s implementation has resulted in a dramatic overreach of government surveillance powers. LPF Treasurer Patrick Leistner remarked, “The Patriot Act has clearly been one of the biggest infringements on our individual liberties in my lifetime, and one of the biggest black eyes of the Republican Party in recent memory.  While nobody is perfect and there’s plenty I disagree with Congressman Steube on, I think it is important that we give praise and support to those who do right, when they do right.”

Over the years, the US government’s use of the Patriot Act has raised significant concerns among libertarians, due to being a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment. Rather than solely focusing on counterterrorism efforts, the government has exploited the Patriot Act to collect extensive amounts of data on US citizens and residents. This expansion of surveillance powers encroaches upon individual privacy and undermines the principles upon which the United States was founded.

US Representative Greg Steube’s bill to repeal the Patriot Act and the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 reflects a growing recognition of the need to eliminate constant government overreach. Steube rightfully highlights the importance of protecting the freedom of law-abiding American citizens. His efforts to rein in the government’s overreach deserve recognition and support from those concerned with privacy rights and limited government intervention.

The LPF is encouraged by Representative Steube’s membership in the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government with liberty-minded Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. The subcommittee, chaired by Congressman Jim Jordan, was established in January of this year to investigate the surveillance abuses by the Executive Branch and the erosion of Americans’ rights.

While the likelihood of Steube’s bill passing and effectively abolishing the Patriot Act may be uncertain, the LPF unequivocally supports his initiative and commends US Representative Greg Steube for his introduction of the bill. As libertarians, we strongly believe that it is crucial to reassess the balance between national security and freedom in order to safeguard individual privacy rights. By actively advocating for the repeal of the Patriot Act, the LPF aims to foster the restoration of the fundamental principles upon which the United States was built. It is our hope that Steube’s bill will spark meaningful discussions and contribute to the protection of civil liberties for all Americans.