Keeping Public Lands Out of Adversarial Hands Act
- Sponsor
- Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]
- Committees
- Foreign Affairs Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jan 14, 2026
Bottom line
This bill expands the scope and membership of CFIUS to enhance national security oversight of foreign land acquisitions, particularly by adversarial nations, near sensitive U.S. public and tribal lands.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to include the Secretary of the Interior as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for transactions involving land or resources adjacent to certain federal or tribal lands. It also mandates that CFIUS review land or resource acquisitions by foreign persons from the People's Republic of China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, or the Islamic Republic of Iran, if the Secretary of the Interior identifies them as potentially covered transactions.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue this bill is crucial for national security, preventing adversarial foreign entities from acquiring strategic land or resources near critical infrastructure, military installations, or sensitive ecological sites. They contend it closes a loophole in current CFIUS authority by explicitly including the Department of the Interior and mandating reviews for specific foreign adversaries, thereby protecting public lands and resources from exploitation or espionage.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that existing CFIUS authorities are sufficient to address national security concerns, and this bill adds unnecessary bureaucracy or could potentially broaden the definition of 'national security' too widely, impacting legitimate foreign investment. Some may also raise concerns about potential diplomatic repercussions or the practical challenges of defining 'adjacent' lands and resources, or that it could be perceived as overly protectionist.
The bill is very short and straightforward, making it highly accessible for any reader to understand its core provisions.
Section 2(a)
Inclusion of Secretary of the Interior on CFIUS
This provision adds the Secretary of the Interior to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) as a member. This membership is specifically for transactions that involve land or resources located adjacent to areas managed by key Interior Department bureaus, such as the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. This ensures the Interior Department's expertise is directly involved when foreign investments could impact public or tribal lands.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that including the Secretary of the Interior is vital because land and resource transactions adjacent to federal or tribal lands can have significant national security implications, from infrastructure protection to resource control. Their direct involvement ensures that unique land management and environmental considerations are integrated into CFIUS reviews.
Critics contend
Critics might contend that adding another agency to CFIUS could further complicate and slow down the review process, potentially deterring beneficial foreign investment without a clear, proportional increase in national security. They might argue that existing CFIUS members can already consult with Interior as needed.
Tradeoffs
The tradeoff is between enhancing specialized oversight for land-related national security risks and potentially increasing the administrative burden and complexity of the CFIUS review process.
Section 2(b)
Mandated CFIUS Review for Adversarial Foreign Land Acquisitions
This section requires CFIUS to review certain land or resource transactions if the Secretary of the Interior flags them as potentially 'covered transactions.' Specifically, these are acquisitions of interest in land or resources by foreign persons from the People's Republic of China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, or the Islamic Republic of Iran. The provision includes a sunset clause, meaning the requirement for a specific country ends if that country is removed from the list of foreign adversaries.