The White House is again seeking more time to comply with subpoenas for documents related to the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance program.

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee had set Monday as the deadline for the Bush administration to comply with the subpoenas. But White House counsel Fred F. Fielding wrote committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., last week asking for more time, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

“Mr. Fielding’s letter lays out specifically how we’re going to work with them and hopefully come to some sort of accommodation,” Johndroe said.

Leahy scheduled a 2:30 p.m. news conference to discuss the subpoenas, which were issued June 27 to the White House, Vice President Dick Cheney’s office, the Justice Department and the National Security Council.

Leahy initially set a July 18 deadline, but changed it to Monday after administration officials initially sought more time.

Earlier this month, lawmakers passed legislation (PL 110-55) that expanded the government’s surveillance powers for six months, allowing Congress time to revise the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act on a more lasting basis.