Bipartisan Bill Targets Secretive Practice of Retired U.S. Service Members Working for Foreign Powers

Summary

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Grassley introduced the bipartisan Retired Officers Conflict of Interest Act in 2023, targeting the largely opaque process by which retired U.S. military officers obtain permission to work for or advise foreign governments. The bill was prompted by investigative reporting revealing that hundreds of retired generals and admirals had taken lucrative consulting roles with foreign governments known for human rights abuses, with existing law approving roughly 95% of such requests with little public scrutiny.

The legislation would require public reporting on which retired officers are working for which foreign governments and for how much compensation, and would establish civil penalties for violations. Supporters argued that the current system creates serious national security and foreign influence risks, given the sensitive information and institutional access these officers carry after leaving service.