REVOKE Act

Summary

Requires the Secretary of Defense to suspend or revoke security clearances or eligibility to access classified information for retired or separated members of the Armed Forces and former Department of Defense civilian employees who engage in lobbying on behalf of companies identified as Chinese military-related by DoD or Treasury lists. The Secretary may grant limited waivers (up to 180 days at a time) if doing so is certified to be in the national security interest and reported to congressional defense committees.

• Secretary of Defense must suspend or revoke security clearances or access eligibility for retired/separated service members and former DoD civilians who lobby for certain Chinese military-related companies.
• Triggers are two official lists: DoD’s report under 10 U.S.C. 1260H and Treasury’s Non‑SDN Chinese Military‑Industrial Complex Companies List.
• Uses existing statutory definitions for lobbying and congressional defense committees, but narrows the Lobbying Disclosure Act definition by excluding a specific clause.
• Secretary may grant waivers in up to 180-day increments if certified to be in the national security interest and reported to congressional defense committees.
• No new funding or appropriations are specified; the measure creates an administrative enforcement obligation for DoD.
• Coverage can change over time because it depends on the entities named on the DoD and Treasury lists.
• Imposes a potential employment restriction or consequence for veterans and former DoD employees who work in lobbying roles for designated companies.
• Focuses on national security risk mitigation tied to foreign military‑linked companies rather than general lobbying conduct.