Management and strategy consulting firms that want to work for the federal government would have to certify they are not simultaneously doing paid consulting work for China, Russia, state sponsors of terrorism, or companies on federal security blacklists. Firms that can't make that certification would be barred from winning federal consulting contracts — effectively forcing them to choose between U.S. government work and foreign adversary clients. Agency heads can grant a waiver of up to 365 days if no conflict-free alternative exists, but must notify Congress and publish the names of the foreign clients on the agency's public website. Firms that lie on their certifications face contract termination and could be liable for three times the damages under the False Claims Act.
Congressional Summary
Time to Choose Act of 2025This bill prohibits the federal government from awarding consulting services contracts to any entity that provides consulting services to covered foreign entities.Foreign entities covered by the bill includethe government of China, the Chinese Communist Party, the People's Liberation Army, or any Chinese security service or intelligence agency;the government of Russia or any entity sanctioned under Executive Order 13662;the government of any country determined by the Department of State to have repeatedly provided support for international terrorism; andany entity on certain lists maintained by the Department of Commerce, such as the Denied Persons List or the Military End User List.An agency may waive the prohibition on a case-by-case basis if it is in the national security interests of the United States and no other entity without a conflict of interest can perform the work.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- Senate
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in Senate
- Action Date
- 2025-02-25
- Date Added
- 2026-04-24
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