Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens national security by restricting former DoD personnel's access to classified information when they work for certain Chinese military-related firms, but it imposes employment and legal uncertainty on veterans and former employees and risks politicized or delayed waiver decisions.
Retired and separated DoD personnel who lobby for identified Chinese military or military‑industrial companies will lose access to classified information, reducing insider risk to sensitive programs and improving national security protections.
The Secretary may grant temporary waivers in 180‑day increments when a demonstrated national‑security need exists, giving flexibility to address exceptional cases without permanently barring access.
The bill aligns statutory definitions with existing law (e.g., the Lobbying Disclosure Act and congressional defense committee rules), reducing legal uncertainty about which activities are covered and clarifying oversight responsibilities.
Retired service members and former DoD civilians who engage in lawful lobbying for listed firms may lose security clearances and related career opportunities, harming their employment and income prospects.
Tying clearance revocation to two government-maintained lists (the DoD report and the Treasury list) that can change over time creates ongoing uncertainty for former personnel about permissible post‑service employment and may chill lawful activities.
The waiver process requires certification to congressional defense committees, which could politicize or delay clearance decisions and lead to inconsistent application across cases.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires DoD to suspend or revoke clearances for former service members and DoD civilians who lobby for designated Chinese military or military‑industrial companies, with limited waivers allowed.
Official title: To revoke security clearances for former personnel of the Department of Defense who engage in lobbying activities on behalf of China, and for other purposes.
Introduced November 18, 2025 by August Pfluger · Last progress November 18, 2025
Removes or suspends security clearances and eligibility for access to classified information for retired or separated U.S. military members and Department of Defense civilian employees who lobby or make lobbying contacts on behalf of designated Chinese military companies or firms on the Treasury’s Non‑SDN Chinese Military‑Industrial Complex Companies List. The Secretary of Defense may grant national‑security waivers in 180‑day increments with notice to congressional defense committees; existing legal definitions are adopted by reference with one narrow exclusion from the Lobbying Disclosure Act definition of "lobbying contact."