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Congress·In Committee·3 months ago

Congress Proposes 5-Year Post-Job Ban for Senate-Confirmed Officials Lobbying for Certain Foreign Governments

Also known as: CLEAR Path Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Negative Impacts(1)
Federal Employee
Hurts

Key Points

  • Creates a new rule that can punish certain top executive branch officials if, after leaving their job, they lobby or advise certain foreign governments to influence U.S. decisions.
  • Applies to people in Senate-confirmed positions (like agency heads and deputies) who are appointed after the law takes effect.
  • Targets work done for a foreign government from a “country of concern,” and covers actions like representing, aiding, or advising that government before U.S. executive or legislative branch staff.
  • Requires agencies to give covered officials written notice of these restrictions when they start the job and when they leave.
  • The new restriction would sunset after 5 years for people appointed after that 5-year mark, meaning the added rule would stop applying to future appointees unless renewed.
Foreign PolicyNational SecurityCriminal JusticeCivil Rights

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Nov 18, 2025House

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Nov 18, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

As soon as the bill is enacted

Agencies start giving written/clear notice of the new restrictions to covered appointees at onboarding and again at exit.

If you accept a Senate-confirmed job, you would be told up front—and reminded when leaving—what foreign-government work could trigger criminal penalties later.

Related News

3 articles
Dentons·about 1 month ago

Political Law Playbook – January 2026

Newsletter notes the bipartisan CLEAR Path Act would prohibit former agency heads, deputies, and other Senate-confirmed officials from lobbying for designated “countries of concern,” listing China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Syria.

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Vermont Business Magazine·about 2 months ago

Welch bill to mitigate foreign influence on US policymaking passes committee

Covers Judiciary Committee advancement of the CLEAR Path Act and summarizes its restrictions on former Senate-confirmed officials lobbying for “countries of concern,” plus the bill’s mechanism for updating the list.

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Senator John Cornyn (official website)·about 2 months ago

Cornyn, Colleagues Bill to Mitigate Foreign Influence on U.S. Policymaking Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

Announcement and statements after the CLEAR Path Act advanced out of Senate Judiciary; describes the bill as restricting certain former officials from lobbying the executive and legislative branches for “countries of concern.”

CR+

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

CLEAR Path Act

Bill NumberHR 6106
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
D: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.