Sponsors (2)
This bill strengthens U.S. diplomatic, reporting, and enforcement tools to deter and respond to threats against undersea cables—improving coordination and deterrence—but it also raises compliance costs, increases federal spending and legal exposure for operators, and carries diplomatic, oversight, and information-security risks.
U.S. military, federal partners, and private subsea operators gain faster, clearer coordination and reporting that improves situational awareness and speed of response to incidents affecting undersea cables and pipelines.
U.S. diplomatic capacity is increased—creating dedicated bureau staff and diplomatic pathways—so the U.S. can better coordinate repairs, reduce foreign legal barriers, and work with allies to protect undersea infrastructure.
The bill gives the U.S. targeted authorities (sanctions, IEEPA blocking, visa measures) to hold foreign actors accountable and deter sabotage of subsea infrastructure.
Subsea operators and related small businesses face increased compliance, coordination, and possible operational requirements that raise costs and administrative burdens.
The bill requires new hires, bureau staffing, and committee work, increasing federal personnel costs and likely raising taxpayer spending or requiring budget reallocations.
A broad statutory definition of 'sabotage' could expand criminal or civil liability and chill routine maintenance, research, or benign activities near subsea infrastructure.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Jeanne Shaheen · Last progress November 20, 2025
Directs a whole-of-government effort to protect and respond to damage or sabotage of undersea telecommunications and energy infrastructure. It requires new intelligence and diplomatic reporting, expands sanction authorities against foreign actors tied to sabotage, creates a dedicated State Department staffing requirement, and establishes an interagency committee to coordinate permitting, licensing, information sharing, and rapid response. Sets deadlines for multiple reports and assessments (some within 60–180 days and then annually for up to five years), requires procedures to share classified and unclassified indicators with cleared non‑Federal partners, and authorizes blocking and immigration sanctions under existing statutory authority while including narrow exceptions and a presidential waiver process.