The head of U.S. intelligence has warned Congress that not renewing the NSA 's controversial phone snooping program will 'raise the risk ' of another terror incident . James Clapper claims failing to extend part of the Patriot Act , which allows the bulk collection of telephone records , will take away a vital tool in the kit of the intelligence agency . Should Congress not renew Section 215 - due to expire on June 1 - then it must be prepared to shoulder the blame should an 'untoward incident ' take place , the Director of National Intelligence added during a question and answer session in New York on Monday . Warning : Clapper told a meeting in New York that failure to renew Section 215 of the Patriot Act - which allows mass collection of phone records - would effectively raise the risk of a terrorist incident . 'In the end , Congress giveth and Congress taketh away , ' Clapper told the group gathered at the Council on Foreign Relations . 'If the congress in its wisdom decides the juice is not worth the squeeze that 's fine : the intelligence community will do all it can within the law to do what it can to protect the country . 'But I have to say , every time we lose another tool in our tool kit , it raises the risk . 'If that tool is taken away from us , and some untoward incident happens which could have been thwarted if we had it , I just hope that everyone involved in that decision assumes responsibility . ' 'Insurance ' : Section 215 - revealed by Edward Snowden - has not prevented a single incident since it was brought in . Section 215 of the Patriot Act - which also allows the NSA to obtain surveillance warrants without naming the person being wiretapped , as well as allowing the surveillance of foreigners suspected of terrorist activity but not affiliated with a terrorist organisation - was one of the most controversial powers brought to light by former security contractor Edward Snowden . It has since been claimed Section 215 , set up in the wake of September 11 , has failed to stop one terrorist incident , leading to calls for it being reformed , or dropped altogether . Senator Patrick Leahy brought forward a bill last year , supported by Clapper , which would have meant phone companies were in charge of keeping the records rather than the FBI or NSA . But Republicans blocked the sweeping overhaul when it came before the Senate last November . However , Clapper remains a defender of the program . 'Section 215 , to me , is like my fire insurance policy , ' he said on Monday . 'My house has not burned down , but every year I buy fire insurance just in case . '
Clapper said failure to renew will mean the loss of a vital 'tool ' for spies . Director of National Intelligence said opponents of Clapper claims Section 215 need to be prepared to should the blame should another 'untoward incident ' occur . Program has not stopped one terror attack since it was established in 2001 . But Section 215Clapper claims Section 215 is like having 'fire insurance ' for your home .