Are you asking in the broader sense I guess? In a narrow sense, the executive branch expanded the intelligence agencies' power, presumably to help them achieve

Are you asking in the broader sense I guess? In a narrow sense, the executive branch expanded the intelligence agencies' power, presumably to help them achieve their mission. If you're wondering about the timing, if you assume my premise is correct, to investigate Trump's Russia connections, it's to give them elevated power to investigate that before Trump hampers their ability to do so when in power. He's been openly hostile towards them when they've brought up the connections. In the broader sense? It's a debate about how much the executive branch should expand surveillance powers, and I'm probably on the same side as you in that respect (privacy is at risk, persecution is a risk if we increase surveillance too much).