Strategic Subsea Cables Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Jeanne Shaheen
In Committee
Summary
Protecting U.S. subsea fiber-optic cables from sabotage and strategic rivals is the bill's core aim. It uses diplomacy, new staffing, interagency coordination, information sharing, and sanctions to boost resilience and response capabilities.
Show full summary
- Cable owners and operators gain formalized real-time threat-sharing procedures for classified and unclassified information and a mandate to streamline permitting and response planning with Federal agencies.
- The Department of State must meet minimum staffing totals for subsea work — a combined minimum of 12 full-time staff with at least 5 in the Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy — and the President must stand up an interagency committee to coordinate resilience, permitting, and attribution.
- The President gets an IEEPA-based sanctions tool and visa penalties for foreign actors who damage subsea infrastructure, and the State Department must deliver detailed annual reports on People’s Republic of China and Russian subsea activities for 5 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster threat sharing with private partners
If enacted, the Director of National Intelligence would give Congress procedures within 60 days for sharing classified and unclassified subsea cable threat indicators with cleared private partners. The procedures would require security controls, protect classified information, and support timely declassification where appropriate. The DNI would report on implementation one year after the procedures and then each year for five years. The procedures would also promote timely release of funds to meet repair and protection needs.
New federal subsea cable committee
If enacted, the President would create an interagency committee within one year to lead U.S. efforts to protect subsea fiber‑optic cables. The committee would include heads of relevant federal agencies and review Federal authorities. The committee would make a plan to work with private partners, speed permitting and licensing, and streamline funding and permitting. The President would report to Congress within 30 days after forming the committee with staffing and resource needs.
Sanctions and visa bans for cable sabotage
If enacted, the President would be able to block property and prohibit transactions of foreign persons the President determines are responsible for or help sabotage critical undersea infrastructure, using authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The President would also be able to make such aliens inadmissible and immediately revoke their visas or entry documents. The bill lists exceptions for United Nations headquarters admissions, certain law‑enforcement or intelligence activities, and limits on sanctioning importation of goods. The President would notify congressional committees with a justification within 15 days after imposing sanctions.
More State staff for subsea cables
If enacted, the Secretary of State would assign at least 10 full‑time staff to subsea cable issues, with at least 5 in the Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy. The Bureau could not meet the minimum by double‑assigning current staff. The Secretary would notify Congress within 15 days after meeting the hiring requirement and send a report within 90 days on diplomatic engagement priorities. The Secretary would also deliver regular reports, including an initial PRC/Russia report covering January 1, 2022 through enactment, and recurring reports on international engagement.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jeanne Shaheen
NH • D
Cosponsors
John Barrasso
WY • R
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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