Sponsors (2)
The bill increases transparency and congressional oversight of which countries are designated and expands disclosure of foreign agents, but does so at the cost of potential politicization and delay, higher compliance costs, greater enforcement burden, and regulatory uncertainty.
Federal agencies must follow a clearer statutory process to add or remove 'countries of concern' and changes require congressional approval, increasing transparency and democratic oversight of designation decisions.
Individuals and organizations acting as agents of foreign principals owned or controlled by listed countries will be required to register under FARA, increasing public disclosure of foreign influence and informing citizens and policymakers.
Requiring congressional approval for additions or removals could politicize and delay updates to the 'countries of concern' list, slowing government response to emerging threats.
Agents of foreign principals from newly listed countries will face higher compliance costs and legal burdens to register under FARA, increasing costs for contractors and possibly reducing participation in some government-related work.
A five-year sunset on the designation regime creates regulatory uncertainty for affected organizations and foreign principals about long-term compliance expectations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Limits several exemptions under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) so that they no longer apply to agents working for corporate or government entities owned or controlled by certain "countries of concern." It also creates a new process that requires the Secretary of State, after consulting the Attorney General, to submit proposals to add or remove countries from that statutory list to two congressional committees, and makes those list changes effective only if Congress passes a specified joint resolution approving them. The changes automatically expire five years after enactment.
Introduced November 18, 2025 by August Pfluger · Last progress November 18, 2025