Sponsors (2)
The bill increases congressional oversight and narrows post‑employment advocacy by senior officials to reduce foreign influence, while risking deterrence of experienced public servants, regulatory uncertainty, legal disputes, and slower executive responsiveness.
Federal employees, Congress, and the public: Congress (Foreign Relations and Judiciary) gains a formal approval role plus statutory criteria for adding/removing countries of concern, increasing legislative oversight and reducing ad-hoc list changes.
Taxpayers and national-security stakeholders: Former Senate-confirmed officials are barred from lobbying or advising U.S. officials on specified 'countries of concern,' reducing potential foreign influence on U.S. policy decisions.
Covered appointees (and hiring agencies): Agencies must notify appointees at appointment and upon separation about restrictions, increasing transparency and helping appointees comply with post‑employment limits.
Federal employees and taxpayers: Criminal penalties and criminal-liability exposure for certain post‑employment advocacy/advising could deter experienced public servants from accepting Senate‑confirmed positions and limit their private‑sector opportunities.
Taxpayers and national-security decisionmakers: Requiring Congress to pass a joint resolution to change the country list slows the executive branch's ability to respond to fast-moving diplomatic or security developments and risks politicizing designations.
Federal employees: The rule applies only to appointments made on or after enactment and contains a 5-year sunset, producing unequal treatment and regulatory uncertainty about long‑term post‑employment rules.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Introduced November 18, 2025 by August Pfluger · Last progress November 18, 2025
Creates a new criminal ban on certain former senior federal officials representing, aiding, or advising listed foreign governments before U.S. executive or legislative branch officials if done with intent to influence official decisions. The rule applies to persons who serve in Senate-confirmed positions appointed on or after enactment, requires agencies to notify covered officials at appointment and separation, sets a procedure for adding or removing countries from the covered list (requiring a congressional joint resolution of approval), and includes a five-year sunset for future appointments while preserving liability for conduct that occurred before the sunset.