Congress expands foreign investment veto near military bases nationwide

What it does

This bill expands the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to automatically review any purchase, lease, or concession of real estate within 100 miles of a U.S. military installation or within 50 miles of military airspace, training routes, or firing areas by foreign persons connected to Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea. It also blocks the Department of Defense and Department of Transportation from approving energy projects on such land until CFIUS completes its review and determines there is no national security threat.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to expand foreign investment review authority to cover real estate transactions near military sites. It is a national security measure, not a deregulation, tax provision, or commemorative act.

What the text implies

• The 100-mile radius around military installations is extremely broad and may capture significant civilian real estate markets in rural and suburban areas near bases, potentially chilling legitimate foreign investment in those regions.
• Mandatory CFIUS review of all covered transactions removes discretion and may create processing backlogs, delaying legitimate energy projects and infrastructure development on affected land.
• The bill ties energy project approvals to CFIUS clearance, giving the Committee veto power over DoD and DoT decisions; if CFIUS refers a transaction to the President, DoD must automatically find the energy project poses unacceptable national security risk, removing DoD's independent judgment.
• Certification requirements to state senators and House members may politicize CFIUS decisions and create pressure for local opposition to foreign investment regardless of actual security threat.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill strengthens national security oversight by preventing foreign adversaries from acquiring land near sensitive military installations and airspace, which protects citizens from potential espionage, surveillance, or sabotage risks. The mandatory review and certification to Congress also increases transparency and accountability in foreign investment decisions affecting military readiness.

Named in the bill

Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, Russian Federation, People's Republic of China, Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Defense Production Act of 1950, Section 721

Where it stands

2 cosponsors: 2 Republicans.

• Apr 9, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Apr 9, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and House Committee on Armed Services · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Energy…”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.