TRUST Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9079
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-06T22:06:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation, known as the Targeted Restrictions Upholding Service Trustworthiness Act or TRUST Act, aims to strengthen national security by barring foreign nationals from certain adversary countries from enlisting or being appointed into the U.S. Armed Forces. It addresses risks such as espionage and foreign influence by limiting service eligibility for individuals with ties to these nations.
Key Provisions
- Enlistment prohibition: Amends section 504 of title 10, United States Code, to bar any national of a covered nation (as defined in section 4872(f)) from enlisting in the Armed Forces, overriding prior allowances.
- Appointment restrictions: Updates section 532(a) of title 10 to require that appointees (such as officers) must not have been a national of a covered nation during the five-year period before appointment.
- Existing personnel review: Directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report within one year identifying current Armed Forces members who are foreign nationals from covered nations and were permanent residents at the time of joining, including details on their accession dates, years of service, and citizenship processes.
- Effective date: The changes apply only to original enlistments or appointments occurring 180 days or more after enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a blanket prohibition on enlistment for covered nation nationals, replacing reliance on case-by-case loyalty assessments.
- Adds a new five-year lookback requirement for appointments, which was not previously specified in section 532.
- Mandates a one-time Department of Defense report on affected current service members, creating new reporting obligations not present in prior statutes.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases administrative burdens on the Department of Defense for screening, reporting, and compliance, potentially affecting recruitment processes.
- Citizens and individuals: Limits opportunities for foreign nationals from covered nations who are permanent residents to serve in the military, while requiring review of existing members in this category.
- International relations: May strain ties with the governments of covered nations by signaling heightened scrutiny of their citizens in U.S. defense roles.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Defense and Armed Forces leadership, responsible for implementation and reporting.
- Prospective recruits and current service members who are foreign nationals from covered nations and permanent U.S. residents.
- Congressional committees on Armed Services, which receive the required report.
- Foreign nationals from adversary countries seeking military service.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Focuses on national security priorities, potentially raising questions about equal treatment under the law for non-citizens, though the bill frames restrictions as necessary for loyalty and risk mitigation.
- Builds on existing immigration and military eligibility rules without altering broader citizenship pathways.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Crane, Elijah [R-AZ-2], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Targeted Restrictions Upholding Service Trustworthiness Act — issued 2026-05-29 — PDF (4 pages)