Time to Choose Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill would ban the federal government from awarding consulting contracts to firms that also work for China, Russia, state sponsors of terrorism, or entities on U.S. export control and sanctions lists. Consulting firms must certify they have no such foreign ties before winning a federal deal.
• "Covered foreign entities" include the Chinese government, Communist Party, People's Liberation Army, the Russian government, sanctioned Russian entities, governments designated as state sponsors of terrorism, and companies on Commerce Department export control lists.
• If a firm is caught lying about its foreign business ties, the government must terminate its contract. The firm could also be suspended or debarred from future federal work and face penalties under the False Claims Act, including triple damages.
• A narrow waiver process allows agency heads to hire a conflicted firm for up to one year if no alternative exists and national security requires it, but they must notify Congress and usually publish the foreign client names on the agency's public website.
• The bill does not authorize any new funding, meaning agencies would need to implement the new certification and oversight requirements using existing budgets and staff.