Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2025

Key Points

• Congress is moving to protect the massive fiber-optic cables that run under the ocean and carry nearly all global internet traffic. These cables are essential for daily life, supporting everything from personal emails to international banking and government communications.
• The proposal would allow the government to punish foreign individuals or groups who intentionally damage these cables. These punishments include freezing their U.S. bank accounts and banning them from traveling to the United States.
• A new team of experts from different government agencies would be formed to coordinate cable safety. This group would work to speed up the permits needed to build new cables and create a clear emergency plan for when cables are accidentally or purposely cut.
• The government would start tracking and reporting on suspicious activity from foreign ships near these cables. Specifically, officials would monitor countries like China and Russia for any technology designed to cut or damage cables deep on the ocean floor.
• The State Department would hire more staff to work with private companies that own and maintain these cables. The goal is to make it easier for the government and private businesses to share information about threats so they can prevent internet outages before they happen.