Sponsors (5)
Bars post‑employment representation/advice to certain foreign governments by presidentially appointed, Senate‑confirmed officials and creates a congressional approval process for changing the country list.
Official title: Amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent and mitigate the potential for conflicts of interest following government service, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 18, 2025 by John Cornyn · Last progress April 22, 2026
The bill increases transparency and interbranch oversight to reduce foreign‑influence risks from former officials, but it does so by imposing criminal exposure and employment limits, introducing legal uncertainty, and slowing or politicizing diplomatic adjustments.
Taxpayers and the public: the bill reduces the risk that former Senate‑confirmed executive officials will lobby or otherwise influence U.S. policy on behalf of listed adversary countries, lowering foreign influence threats.
Taxpayers and federal employees: Congress gains direct approval authority and the bill requires interbranch consultation and a standardized process for changing the designated-country list, increasing legislative oversight and deliberation of foreign‑policy designations.
Federal appointees and former officials: agencies must notify appointees at appointment and upon termination about applicable post‑employment limits, improving transparency and helping people understand their obligations when they leave government.
Former senior officials: the bill can limit post‑government employment and create real risk of criminal liability for routine advisory or consulting work tied to entities associated with a listed country, reducing career opportunities.
Taxpayers and foreign‑policy practitioners: requiring congressional approval for changes to the designated‑country list can slow routine diplomatic adjustments and hinder timely responses to changing threats or partnerships.
Taxpayers, federal employees, and state partners: shifting final authority from the executive to Congress risks politicizing designations and complicating coordination with foreign partners.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Creates a new, targeted post‑employment ban that prevents presidentially appointed, Senate‑confirmed executive branch officials (heads, deputies, and other S/confirmed positions) from knowingly representing, aiding, or advising certain foreign governments before U.S. executive or legislative branch officials with the intent to influence official decisions. It defines procedures for notice at appointment and separation, excludes traditional lawyer–client legal defense, phases the rule forward only for appointees named on or after enactment, and sunsets the new restriction for later appointees five years after enactment. It also gives the Secretary of State (with the Attorney General) a formal process to propose changes to the statutory list of covered countries that would only take effect after a special congressional joint resolution of approval is enacted.