Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The Time to Choose Act of 2025 requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the FAR to bar entities from winning federal consulting contracts if they (or affiliates) simultaneously provide consulting services to certain ‘‘covered foreign entities’’ (including Chinese and Russian government or listed entities). It requires a pre-contract self-certification, establishes a limited, tightly scoped waiver process with OMB, DoD, and DNI involvement plus congressional notification and public disclosure requirements, and mandates contractor reporting and penalties for false statements including termination, debarment, and False Claims Act exposure.
Progressives worry about overbreadth and civil liberties; conservatives emphasize national security
National-security rationale aids support; industry pushback and procurement disruption raise resistance.
The Time to Choose Act of 2025 requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to amend the FAR to bar entities from winning federal consulting contracts if they (or affiliates) simultaneously provide consulting services to certain ‘‘covered foreign entities’’ (including Chinese and Russian government or listed entities).
It requires a pre-contract self-certification, establishes a limited, tightly scoped waiver process with OMB, DoD, and DNI involvement plus congressional notification and public disclosure requirements, and mandates contractor reporting and penalties for false statements including termination, debarment, and False Claims Act exposure.
The bill defines covered foreign entities by specific government-designations and export-control lists, clarifies covered consulting services (NAICS 5416), and authorizes no additional appropriations.
Clear national-security framing helps, but regulatory disruption to major contractors, implementation complexity, and enforcement risks lower chances absent compromise or attachment to larger must-pass legislation.
How solid the drafting looks.
Progressives worry about overbreadth and civil liberties; conservatives emphasize national security
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives worry about overbreadth and civil liberties; conservatives emphasize national security
Likely cautiously supportive of stronger protections against foreign influence in federal contracting, especially targeting China and sanctioned actors.
Would be concerned about overbreadth, impacts on legitimate cross-border work, civil liberties, and potential chilling effects on academics or legal services; would push for narrow implementation and strong oversight.
Pragmatically positive about reducing foreign influence and conflicts in federal contracting, while cautious about administrative costs and unintended capability gaps.
Would support if implementation is clarified, waiver procedures are efficient, and agencies receive clear guidance to minimize procurement disruption.
Strongly favorable as a tool to prevent U.S. contractors from aiding strategic competitors like China or sanctioned actors.
Views the bill as a needed guardrail to protect national security and economic interests, while accepting limited waivers for urgent national security needs.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Clear national-security framing helps, but regulatory disruption to major contractors, implementation complexity, and enforcement risks lower chances absent compromise or attachment to larger must-pass legislation.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives worry about overbreadth and civil liberties; conservatives emphasize national security
Clear national-security framing helps, but regulatory disruption to major contractors, implementation complexity, and enforcement risks low…
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