Bill would bar ex-officials from aiding "countries of concern" for life
Passed one chamberS. 2132Latest action
Sponsor: John Cornyn · Senator · TX
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: CLEAR Path Act
119th Congress
Topics: Crime & justice
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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The CLEAR Path Act would permanently bar senior ex-officials from helping countries like China or Russia influence U.S. policy.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
The CLEAR Path Act extends "revolving door" ethics rules to permanently bar former officials from representing or advising foreign governments from "countries of concern" seeking to influence U.S. decisions. It exempts licensed attorneys giving legal advice, and only applies to officials appointed after the law takes effect. The restrictions expire after 5 years unless renewed, and the Secretary of State, with the Attorney General, can update the country list subject to congressional approval.
Who does it affect?
Affects senior government officials , such as agency heads, deputy heads, and cabinet secretaries. Does not apply to average government employees or private citizens.
Why does it matter?
The law would permanently restrict these officials' future career options involving foreign government work tied to designated countries of concern.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJun 18, 2025
- Senate committee
- Senate vote
- HouseYou are here · Apr 22, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the Senate, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Held at the desk.