Rep. Kat Cammack of Florida is advocating for mandatory background checks for all congressional staff, along with disclosure of their nationalities and any payments received from foreign governments. This push comes amid concerns about foreign influence campaigns on Capitol Hill, which Cammack describes as "the worst kept secret on Capitol Hill."
The resolution was introduced following reports that the FBI is investigating a senior GOP aide for allegedly acting as a foreign agent for Qatar. Revelations have also surfaced about alleged spies for Cuba and China working within members' offices.
Cammack stated that members such as Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) have been targets of foreign influence operations. Diaz-Balart's office reported attempts by the Cuban regime to infiltrate his staff and his brother's office, while Wasserman Schultz's office discovered a staff member taking cash from a foreign government and "stealing different files."
According to Cammack, the Justice Department is expected to release a report detailing instances of foreign agents being placed in staff positions. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) also claimed on social media that declassified files will soon emerge concerning a former member of Congress who allegedly placed interns working as foreign agents in other offices. Past incidents include a former aide to Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) being fired for facilitating meetings with the Chinese embassy and former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) being a target of a Beijing influence campaign.
Cammack characterized the current environment as "a total free-for-all on Capitol Hill," which adversaries exploit. She indicated that House Republican leadership informed her the resolution requires 100 co-sponsors for a vote, but she suspects leadership may be hesitant due to potential discoveries.
"For a number of different reasons, I am hearing that leadership doesn’t want this to go through, and I think honestly it’s because they’re more worried about what they’re gonna find," Cammack alleged. She also connected the issue to sexual misconduct, citing a recent report on Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and a proposal by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to ban romantic relationships between lawmakers and staff.
Currently, background checks for congressional employees are voluntary, with no mandatory rules for financial disclosures or foreign ties. The Senate also lacks a mandatory policy for background checks.
Cammack's resolution proposes that the House sergeant-at-arms conduct the background checks at a cost of $750 per staffer. She estimated the total cost of scrutinizing all 12,000 congressional aides at $9 million, calling it a small price for national security and peace of mind. Cammack asserted that most members she has spoken with support the measure, but its progression is dependent on the Rules Committee, which operates at the behest of leadership. Johnson's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.