Bill · S. 981· Senate(119-S-981)
Foreign Agents Transparency Act
- Introduced
- 3/12/2025
- Last activity
- 3/12/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Sponsored by
- Chuck Grassley
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Foreign Agents Transparency Act aims to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938. It seeks to clarify that the obligation to register as a foreign agent is continuing for activities performed while serving a foreign principal. The bill allows the Attorney General to seek court orders requiring compliance even after a person has stopped acting as an agent. Additionally, it establishes a requirement for the Attorney General to submit annual reports regarding enforcement actions. These reports must detail actions taken against specific individuals and the reasoning behind them.
Yes
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+6
The bill mandates annual reports detailing enforcement actions and the identities of those involved.
Does this give the federal government more power?+5
The bill expands the Attorney General's ability to enforce registration requirements on former agents.
The opposite
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-4
The requirement to publicly list names of individuals in annual reports impacts individual privacy.
Does this protect the individual right to speak freely?-3
The extended compliance obligations and public reporting could have a chilling effect on former agents.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Clarifying Registration Obligations: Section 2 clarifies that the obligation to register covers the period during which the person acted as an agent, which establishes a continuing obligation for those who formerly served as agents of foreign principals.
-
Enhanced Enforcement Capabilities: Section 3 allows the Attorney General to apply for orders requiring a person to comply with the Act even after their work as an agent has ended, or even if they are not currently acting as an agent at the time a court issues the order.
-
Increased Transparency and Accountability: Section 4 requires the Attorney General to submit annual, machine-readable reports to various Congressional committees regarding "covered actions" taken against individuals. This includes the name of the individual, the rationale for the action, and the status of the action.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Increased Regulatory Burden on Former Agents: Section 2 and Section 3 establish that individuals may still be subject to registration obligations and court orders regarding their previous activities even after they are no longer acting as agents of a foreign principal.
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Public Disclosure of Information: Section 4 requires the Attorney General to include the name of each "covered individual" against whom a covered action was taken in annual reports provided to Congressional committees and other Members of Congress upon request.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+6Increases Federal Power+5Improves Privacy Rights-4Improves Freedom Of Speech-3
- 3/12/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana