HR2675-119

What This Bill Does

The Protecting Our Courts from Foreign Manipulation Act of 2025 adds a new section 1660 to title 28 governing foreign third-party litigation funding in Federal civil actions. Parties or counsel of record must disclose to the court, other named parties, the Attorney General, and the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security the name, address, citizenship, country of incorporation, and contractual role of any foreign person, foreign state, sovereign wealth fund, or agent of a foreign principal that is funding the case. If the funding source is a foreign state or sovereign wealth fund, the court must stay the action until the court determines that the funder is no longer participating. The bill also requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to House and Senate Judiciary Committees on foreign litigation funders, source countries, affected judicial districts, estimated funding amounts, and case subject matters.

Who Benefits and How

Federal courts benefit from visibility into foreign money behind civil litigation before cases proceed. Named parties benefit because disclosure lets them see whether an opposing party is backed by a foreign person, foreign state, sovereign wealth fund, or foreign principal. The Department of Justice National Security Division benefits from receiving funding disclosures that can reveal foreign influence in U.S. litigation. Congressional judiciary committees benefit from annual reports showing which foreign funders, countries, districts, dollar amounts, and case types are involved. U.S. businesses and litigants facing foreign-backed suits benefit when courts can pause cases funded by foreign states or sovereign wealth funds.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Foreign third-party litigation funders must be disclosed by name, address, citizenship or incorporation country, and contract terms. Foreign states and sovereign wealth funds bear the strongest burden because their participation can force a Federal civil action to be stayed until they exit the funding arrangement. Civil litigants using foreign funding and their counsel of record must collect and file the required information with the court, other parties, the Attorney General, and the National Security Division. The Department of Justice must receive disclosures and prepare annual reports to Congress. Courts must review disclosures and decide whether a stay is required.

Key Provisions

• Requires parties or counsel in Federal civil actions to disclose foreign third-party litigation funding to the court, other parties, DOJ, and the National Security Division.
• Requires disclosure of funder identity, address, citizenship or incorporation country, contract details, and funding amount.
• Bars foreign states and sovereign wealth funds from continuing as litigation funders by requiring a stay until their participation ends.
• Requires the Attorney General to report annually to House and Senate Judiciary Committees on foreign funders, source countries, judicial districts, estimated funding amounts, and case subjects.