PRIA Logo™
119-s-731119th CongressWALLET

Time to Choose Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Hawley, Josh [R-MO]

Introduced

Summary

Bars consulting firms from advising both U.S. federal agencies and certain foreign entities. The Time to Choose Act of 2025 would require firms to choose between federal consulting work and certain foreign clients, and it sets rules for waivers, disclosures, and penalties.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Limits on consultants with foreign clients

If enacted, the FAR would be changed within one year so firms offering consulting to federal agencies must certify they and affiliates do not consult for covered foreign entities. "Consulting services" would be defined broadly and would explicitly include NAICS 5416 management, scientific, and technical consulting. The bill lists which foreign governments and entities count as "covered foreign entities" using several government lists and named governments. Agencies could not award federal consulting contracts to firms that self-certify they work for those covered foreign entities.

Stronger penalties for false certifications

If enacted, agencies would have to terminate contracts when a consulting firm knowingly submitted a false certification after the FAR change. Agencies must also consider suspending or debarring the firm under existing rules. Firms that knowingly hide or lie about contracts with covered foreign entities could be sued under the False Claims Act and could owe three times the damages the U.S. government sustained.

One-time waivers and no new funding

If enacted, agency heads could grant a narrow, case-by-case waiver for national security after consulting the Defense Secretary and DNI. Agencies must tell OMB at least 5 days before a waiver and notify Congress within 30 days, and waivers would last up to 365 days with one 180-day extension. Agencies must publish the names of covered foreign entities unless publication would harm security and require strict oversight and reporting from contractors. The bill says no new money is authorized, so agencies must use existing funds to implement these rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hawley, Josh [R-MO]

MO • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 2/25/2025

  • Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2025

  • Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 2/4/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation