Pentagon can now revoke clearances for defense officials lobbying for China
S. 3181 — REVOKE Act · Filed by John Cornyn (R-TX) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Nov 18, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires the Secretary of Defense to suspend or revoke security clearances for former military officers and DoD civilian employees who lobby on behalf of Chinese military companies identified by the U.S. government. The bill targets individuals with access to classified information who then work to advance the interests of entities the Treasury and DoD have designated as part of China's military-industrial complex. A narrow national-security waiver allows the Secretary to permit such activity for up to 180 days if certified necessary.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a security-clearance revocation tied to foreign lobbying activity, designed to prevent former defense officials from advancing Chinese military interests while retaining access to classified information. This is a straightforward counterintelligence and conflict-of-interest safeguard.
What the text implies
- The bill's scope depends entirely on Treasury's Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List and DoD's section 1260H report—if those lists are narrow or outdated, the bill's protective effect is limited.
- The 180-day national-security waiver creates a potential loophole: the Secretary could repeatedly renew waivers for the same individual, effectively nullifying the clearance revocation if national-security justifications are loosely applied.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill protects national security by preventing former defense officials with classified-information access from lobbying on behalf of foreign military entities, reducing espionage and technology-transfer risks. Citizens benefit from stronger counterintelligence safeguards and reduced vulnerability to foreign influence within the defense establishment.