Sponsors (45)
Last progress December 18, 2025 (1 month ago)
Introduced on May 19, 2025 by Marjorie Taylor Greene
2 meetings related to this legislation
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Creates a new federal crime that makes it illegal to perform, attempt, facilitate, consent to, or transport a minor for genital or other bodily mutilation or for chemical castration. Violations carry fines, up to 10 years in prison, or both; the bill also prevents prosecuting victims and says religious or customary practice is not a defense.
Makes it a federal offense to knowingly perform or attempt to perform genital or bodily mutilation on a minor, except as provided in subsection (g); violators "shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both."
Makes it a federal offense to knowingly chemically castrate a minor, except as provided in subsection (g); violators "shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both."
Creates an offense (subject to subsection (g)) for anyone who knowingly facilitates or consents to female genital mutilation of a minor or transports a minor for the purpose of performing female genital mutilation, when the circumstances in subsection (d) apply.
Lists the circumstances that bring the conduct under federal jurisdiction: (1) defendant or victim traveled in interstate or foreign commerce in furtherance of the conduct; (2) defendant used a means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce in furtherance of the conduct; (3) any payment in furtherance of the conduct used interstate or foreign commerce; (4) defendant transmitted communications in interstate or foreign commerce relating to the conduct (including by computer, mail, wire, or electromagnetic transmission); (5) any instrument/item that traveled in interstate or foreign commerce was used to perform the conduct; (6) the conduct occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. or a U.S. territory or possession; or (7) the conduct otherwise occurred in or affected interstate or foreign commerce.
Specifies that it is not a valid legal defense to a prosecution under this section to claim that female genital mutilation is required by religion, custom, tradition, ritual, or standard practice.
Who is affected and how:
Children and minors: The legislation directly targets harmful procedures performed on minors, aiming to prevent and punish those acts.
Healthcare providers and medical personnel: Providers who perform or assist in the prohibited procedures (or who transport minors for them) may face federal criminal liability when federal jurisdiction applies. The law’s definitions and exceptions will determine which medical acts are lawful vs. criminal.
Parents, guardians, and third parties: Adults who consent to, arrange, transport, or facilitate prohibited procedures for minors could be criminally liable under federal law.
Federal law enforcement and prosecutors: Agencies will gain an explicit federal statute to investigate and prosecute qualifying cases, especially those crossing state lines or involving federal property or interests.
Religious and cultural communities: The law removes religious or customary practice as a defense, so practices argued as religiously motivated would not avoid criminal liability under this statute.
State governments and state prosecutors: This federal offense operates alongside state criminal laws; in many cases states may already prohibit similar conduct, raising questions about coordination, prosecutorial discretion, and potential duplicative enforcement. The statute’s federal-jurisdiction triggers will determine how frequently federal authorities assert jurisdiction.
Potential uncertainties and practical effects: