Sponsors (18)
Introduced February 24, 2026 by David Harold McCormick · Last progress February 24, 2026
The bill significantly expands U.S. support for Iranian civil society, uncensored connectivity, broadcasting, and sanctions tools—strengthening human-rights efforts and oversight—but does so with open‑ended costs, risks of escalation and retaliation, added burdens for businesses, and tradeoffs between transparency and protecting sensitive operations.
Iranian civil-society groups, journalists, and activists gain expanded access to uncensored internet tools (VPNs, direct-to-cell/LEO satellites, mesh networks) and digital-safety training, improving their ability to communicate, document abuses, and organize.
U.S. sanctions and designation authorities are clarified and strengthened (including for sale of censorship/surveillance technology), helping deter human-rights violators and constraining abusive actors' financial and travel options.
Congressional reporting, interagency strategy updates, performance metrics, and GAO review increase transparency and oversight of U.S. programs supporting digital freedom and broadcasting to Iran.
U.S. taxpayers face increased and open‑ended federal spending because multiple provisions authorize 'such sums as may be necessary' for multi-year programs (FY2024–FY2030).
Covert and overt efforts to expand connectivity, broadcasts, sanctions, and other pressure risk escalating tensions with Iran, potentially increasing geopolitical instability and costs to Americans abroad and to national-security posture.
U.S.-backed digital tools, training, and publicity can provoke Iranian retaliation that endangers the very journalists, activists, and civilians they aim to help, exposing beneficiaries to surveillance, arrest, or worse if operations are discovered or poorly executed.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Directs State and interagency partners to expand internet freedom, broadcasting, sanctions reviews, and develop anti‑shutdown technologies for Iran, with new reporting and funding for FY2027–FY2030.
Requires the State Department and other federal agencies to expand U.S. efforts to keep the internet and uncensored news available to people in Iran, strengthen broadcasting and support for independent Iranian journalists and civil society, and to identify and punish foreign actors who sell surveillance or censorship tools to the Iranian regime. It sets deadlines for updated strategies and reports, creates a State‑led interagency working group to develop low‑cost counter‑shutdown technologies, directs cyber‑safety training and tool distribution for journalists and activists, and authorizes funding to carry out these activities over FY2027–FY2030. Also requires the President to respond to congressional requests to determine whether specific foreign persons aided Iranian repression and to justify any sanctions decisions; mandates GAO reviews of related federal spending and program effectiveness; and makes clear the Act does not authorize military force.