Foreign Adversary AI Risk Assessment and Diplomacy Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7058

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-26: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 45 - 0.

Last Updated

2026-05-04T19:15:58Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The legislation, titled the "Foreign Adversary AI Risk Assessment and Diplomacy Act," aims to address national security threats from foreign adversaries using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for harmful purposes. It requires the U.S. Department of State to evaluate these risks through regular assessments and encourages diplomatic efforts to mitigate them, promoting responsible international behavior in AI use.

Key Provisions

• Sense of Congress: Expresses that generative AI offers societal and economic benefits if used responsibly, but its adoption by foreign adversaries poses unclear national security risks. It urges the Department of State, in coordination with other federal agencies, to diplomatically assess and counter these risks via bilateral/multilateral talks and international standards.
• Risk Assessments: The Secretary of State must submit an assessment to congressional committees within 180 days of enactment and annually for three years. These assessments, developed in consultation with relevant federal agencies, cover:
• Analysis of incidents in the prior year where foreign adversaries used or tried to use generative AI maliciously against the U.S. or allies, including:
• Creating fake media (synthetic content like images or videos) for propaganda or influence operations.
• Improving development of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons.
• Enabling cyberattacks.
• Boosting military, surveillance, or intelligence tools.
• Review of emerging trends in such AI use, including attribution to specific adversaries and effects on U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy, and global AI norms.
• Recommendations to reduce risks to the U.S. and allies.
• Submission Format: Assessments are unclassified but may include a classified section to protect sensitive intelligence sources. The unclassified portions must be posted on the Department of State's public website.
• Definitions:
• Appropriate congressional committees: House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
• Artificial intelligence: Defined per the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 as systems that perform tasks under varying circumstances without significant human oversight.
• Foreign adversary: Refers to "covered nations" under U.S. law (e.g., China, Russia, Iran, North Korea).
• Generative artificial intelligence applications: AI models that create new synthetic content (e.g., images, videos, text) mimicking input data patterns.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new mandates not previously required by law. It creates ongoing assessment and reporting obligations for the Department of State on generative AI risks from foreign adversaries, filling a gap in current U.S. policy by focusing specifically on diplomatic and international responses to AI-enabled threats. No direct amendments to existing statutes are specified, but it builds on definitions from prior laws like the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act and defense-related codes.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of State will face increased workload for assessments and public reporting, requiring coordination with agencies like the Department of Defense, intelligence community, and cybersecurity offices. This could enhance inter-agency collaboration on AI threats.
• Citizens: Indirect protection from AI-driven harms like disinformation campaigns or cyberattacks, potentially safeguarding elections, privacy, and public safety, though no direct citizen rights are altered.
• International Relations: Strengthens U.S. diplomatic tools to build global AI norms, engage allies, and pressure adversaries, possibly improving alliances against shared threats but risking tensions with named foreign adversaries.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government Entities: Primarily the Department of State (leading assessments and diplomacy); secondarily, federal agencies involved in national security, intelligence, and AI policy (e.g., CIA, NSA, Department of Defense).
• Congress: Foreign Affairs and Foreign Relations committees, which receive reports and can influence policy oversight.
• U.S. and Allied Citizens/Governments: Benefit from risk mitigation against influence operations and cyber threats; allies may collaborate on norms.
• Foreign Adversaries: Nations like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, whose AI activities will be scrutinized, potentially facing diplomatic isolation or sanctions.
• Private Sector and Researchers: Indirectly affected through promoted international standards on responsible AI, which could influence global tech development.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes enforceable reporting deadlines and public transparency requirements, with classified protections to balance openness and security. It leverages existing legal definitions, ensuring consistency without creating new regulatory bodies.
• Constitutional: Reinforces congressional oversight of executive branch foreign policy (Article I powers), allowing lawmakers to monitor and respond to AI threats without infringing on the president's diplomatic authority.
• Political: Highlights AI as a bipartisan national security priority (introduced by Republican members), potentially shaping future legislation on emerging tech. It promotes U.S. leadership in international AI governance, which could influence global debates on technology ethics and arms control, but may escalate geopolitical rivalries if assessments lead to confrontational diplomacy.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]

Cosponsors (10)

Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Van Epps, Matt [R-TN-7], Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-26: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 45 - 0.
• 2026-03-26: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2026-01-14: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2026-01-14: Introduced in House
• 2026-01-14: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Foreign Adversary AI Risk Assessment and Diplomacy Act — issued 2026-01-14 — PDF (5 pages)