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119-hr-2158119th Congress

Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

In Committee

Summary

Creates a DHS Transnational Repression Working Group that would analyze, monitor, and coordinate federal responses to foreign-government efforts to harass, coerce, or harm U.S. persons in the United States. It would produce annual unclassified assessments for seven years and fund research and testing to help federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners counter these threats while protecting privacy and free speech.

Show full summary
  • People and communities targeted by foreign repression: would see increased federal tracking and yearly public reports that quantify responsible actors and describe attempted incidents.
  • State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials and fusion centers: would receive coordinated information sharing, analytical products, and DHS research and testing to improve detection and response.
  • DHS operations and civil-rights safeguards: would create a director-level position inside Homeland Security Investigations, require sufficient staffing including at least one privacy compliance employee, and mandate compliance with constitutional, privacy, civil rights, and free-speech protections.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Homeland Security team to track foreign repression

This bill would create a Transnational Repression Working Group at Homeland Security. It would analyze and share threats with the DHS intelligence office and fusion centers. The investigations director would appoint its leader, who reports to the Secretary and HSI. DHS would staff the group, including at least one privacy officer, and could accept staff on detail from other agencies. Within 180 days, and then yearly for 7 years, it would publish unclassified reports online with counts and countries tied to incidents. The group would coordinate with Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial partners, and would sunset after 7 years.

Free speech safeguards and who is covered

All activities under this bill would have to follow constitutional, privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections. They may not infringe the lawful free speech of U.S. persons. The bill would also define who and what is covered. It defines transnational repression as coercion, threats, or violence done in a foreign government’s interest, in the U.S. or against a U.S. person. It defines agent of a foreign government and other key terms to apply these rules.

Homeland Security research to counter repression

Not later than one year after enactment, Homeland Security would start research and testing of tools and techniques. The goal would be to help Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials counter transnational repression and related terrorism threats. This work would be coordinated with the Science and Technology office, the Transnational Repression Office, and HSI, as practicable.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pfluger, August [R-TX-11]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8]

    CO • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]

    MS • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 3/14/2025

  • Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 6/9/2025

  • Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 4/27/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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