HOUTHI PC SMALL GROUP Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 2611

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-07-08T18:42:08Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill aims to enhance national security by prohibiting the use of mobile or desktop messaging applications for sharing classified information, addressing potential vulnerabilities in modern communication tools.

Key Provisions

• New Criminal Offense: Adds Section 798B to Chapter 37 of Title 18, United States Code (which covers espionage and related crimes), making it illegal for anyone to knowingly communicate, furnish, transmit, or make available any classified information (information officially designated as sensitive to national security) using a mobile or desktop messaging application.
• Penalties: Violators face a fine (as determined under the applicable federal law), imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
• Short Title: The act is named the "Homeland Operations and Unilateral Tactics Halting Incursions: Preventing Coordinated Subversion, Military Aggression and Lawless Levies Granting Rogue Operatives Unchecked Power Act of 2025" or the shorter "HOUTHI PC SMALL GROUP Act of 2025."

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a specific prohibition targeting messaging applications, which is not explicitly covered in current espionage laws (such as Section 798, which broadly prohibits unauthorized disclosure of classified information but does not single out digital messaging tools).
• Amends the table of sections in Chapter 37 to include the new Section 798B, ensuring it is properly indexed in the U.S. Code.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Federal agencies handling classified information (e.g., Department of Defense, intelligence community) may need to update communication policies, training, and technology to enforce compliance, potentially increasing reliance on secure, government-approved systems and reducing use of commercial apps like WhatsApp or Signal for official purposes.
• On Citizens: Primarily affects individuals with access to classified information, such as government employees or contractors; ordinary citizens are unlikely to be impacted unless they handle such materials unofficially.
• On International Relations: Could strengthen U.S. efforts to protect sensitive information from foreign adversaries, but might complicate diplomatic or international collaborations if messaging apps are commonly used in those contexts.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Government and Military Personnel: Employees, contractors, and officials with security clearances who routinely handle classified data.
• Intelligence and Defense Communities: Agencies like the CIA, NSA, and FBI, which must implement and enforce the new rules.
• Technology Providers: Developers and operators of messaging applications, who may face indirect scrutiny or need to adapt features for compliance.
• Legal and Judicial Systems: Prosecutors and courts dealing with espionage cases, as this expands prosecutable offenses.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Closes a perceived gap in existing espionage statutes by explicitly addressing digital tools, potentially leading to more prosecutions for inadvertent or intentional leaks via apps; however, it requires proof of "knowing" communication, preserving intent as a key element.
• Constitutional: Aligns with established limits on free speech for classified information (as upheld in cases like the Pentagon Papers), but could face challenges if seen as overly broad in restricting personal device use—though its focus on classified material likely mitigates First Amendment concerns.
• Political: The bill's acronym and full title suggest a targeted response to specific threats (possibly referencing groups like the Houthis), reflecting congressional priorities on countering subversion and aggression; it was introduced by Rep. Torres of New York and referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-02: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-04-02: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-02: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Homeland Operations and Unilateral Tactics Halting Incursions: Preventing Coordinated Subversion, Military Aggression and Lawless Levies Granting Rogue Operatives Unchecked Power Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-02 — PDF (2 pages)