# 2024-30871: DOJ Updates Rules for Tracking Foreign Government Lobbyists 2024-30871, Amending and Clarifying Foreign Agents Registration Act Regulations, is a Federal Register proposed rule from an unnamed agency published 2025-01-02, effective Comments must be submitted on or before March 3, 2025 (electronic comments accepted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on that date). (as of 2026-06-08). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2024-30871 - As of: 2026-06-08 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2024-30871 - Title: Amending and Clarifying Foreign Agents Registration Act Regulations - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: unknown - Citation: unknown - Published: 2025-01-02 - Effective: Comments must be submitted on or before March 3, 2025 (electronic comments accepted until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on that date). - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-06-08 ## In one line DOJ Updates Rules for Tracking Foreign Government Lobbyists ## Summary The Department of Justice is updating the rules for people and groups who work for foreign interests in the U.S. These changes clarify who needs to register, update key definitions, and modernize the process to keep things clear and fair. If you’re affected, you can share your thoughts by March 3, 2025, and no new fees are mentioned yet. ## Abstract The Department of Justice ("DOJ," "the Department") is proposing amendments and other clarifications to the scope of certain exemptions, to update and add various definitions, and to make other modernizing changes to the Attorney General's Foreign Agents Registration Act ("FARA") implementing regulations. ## Effects PRIA read - DOJ Keeps Broad 'Agency' Definition: cost, medium. The Department of Justice says it will not adopt the common-law test for "agency" and will keep a broader FARA agency standard that can include persons who act at the "request" or "direction" of a foreign principal. If you are unsure whether your activities make you an agent, the Department points… - Exemption Applies to Nonprofits and Businesses: benefit, medium. DOJ proposes to make clear that the 22 U.S.C. 613(d)(2) exemption can apply to both commercial and noncommercial entities alike, so long as the activities do not serve predominantly a foreign interest. That change is written into the proposed regulatory text at 28 CFR 5.304(c). - Four Exclusions That Block the 613(d)(2) Exemption: cost, medium. The Department proposes four categorical exclusions that would prevent use of the 22 U.S.C. 613(d)(2) exemption: (1) activities intended to benefit the political or public interests of a foreign government or party; (2) activities influenced by a foreign government or political party; (3) activitie… - New Factors To Judge 'Predominant' Interest: benefit, medium. When the 613(d)(2) exemption might apply, DOJ proposes a non-exhaustive list of factors to decide if activities serve domestic rather than foreign interests. These include: (1) whether the public and officials already know about the agent–foreign principal relationship; (2) whether activities furth… - Remove 'Directly' From 'Directly Promote' Standard: benefit, low. The Department proposes deleting the word "directly" from the regulatory phrase "directly promote" so that exemptions at 22 U.S.C. 613(d)(1) and (d)(2) would exclude activities that "promote" (not only "directly promote") the public or political interests of a foreign government or political party. - No New Narrow Definition for 'Political Consultant': cost, low. DOJ considered but is not issuing a new regulation narrowing the definition of "political consultant" to those who conduct "political activities." The Department determined such a narrow regulation would be redundant or inconsistent with the statute and advises unsettled parties to seek advisory op… - Advisory Opinions Emphasized for Unclear Cases: benefit, low. The Department repeatedly directs persons who are unsure whether their activities require registration to use the advisory-opinion process in 28 CFR 5.2. The Department says agency-level determinations about agency relationships are fact-intensive and best handled through advisory opinions. - Law-Practice Exemption Under Review for Clarification: benefit, low. Multiple law firms asked DOJ to clarify when activities related to criminal, civil, or agency proceedings are "in the course of" normal legal representation for the 22 U.S.C. 613(g) exemption, and DOJ is considering how to address this in the regulations. ## Related documents - [2026-20735](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20735): Extensions of Credit to Insiders, 2026-10-09 - [2026-20790](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20790): Application of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to the Refunded Portion of Certain Federal Refun…, 2026-10-09 - [2026-20721](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20721): Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods: Enforcement Policy for Certain Retail Food Establishments and Restauran…, 2026-10-09 - [2026-20650](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20650): Low-Value Shipments, 2026-10-08 - [2026-20660](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20660): Optional Practical Training Fees, 2026-10-08 - [2026-20677](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20677): Airworthiness Directives; Various Helicopters, 2026-10-08 ## Sources - [2024-30871 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/02/2024-30871/amending-and-clarifying-foreign-agents-registration-act-regulations) - [2024-30871 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-02/pdf/2024-30871.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2024-30501, Access to Video Conferencing](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2024-30501) - [Next: 2024-31462, Excise Tax on Designated Drugs](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2024-31462) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2024-30871 (as of 2026-06-08).