Senator Ron Wyden, who has voiced major opposition to government surveillance in Congress, released a statement Tuesday criticizing the extension of NSA bulk data collection by the surveillance court.

“I see no reason for the Executive Branch to restart bulk collection, even for a few months,” the Oregon Senator said. “This illegal dragnet surveillance violated Americans’ rights for fourteen years without making our country any safer. It is disappointing that the administration is seeking to resurrect this unnecessary and invasive program after it has already been shut down.”