Disclosure under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is plummeting, with a 30% decrease in informational materials being reported in the first quarter of 2025 compared to previous years. The Trump administration’s efforts to curtail FARA enforcement have led to a dismantling of government bodies tracking foreign influence in the U.S., creating a system where foreign powers are emboldened to disclose less about their efforts to influence American politics.
Foreign influence in America is on the rise, with lobbying spending by top countries increasing significantly in recent years. The Trump administration’s changes to FARA enforcement have allowed individuals caught up in illicit influence operations to seek leniency or clemency, as seen in cases involving prominent elected officials like Bob Menendez and Henry Cuellar. The dismissal of charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams after meeting with Trump highlights the impact of these changes.
Despite concerns about politicization, dismantling FARA enforcement weakens the government’s ability to track foreign influence operations in the U.S. The Trump administration’s actions have created a situation where foreign powers can operate underground to influence American policies, while American citizens are held to higher transparency standards. This lack of oversight could lead to unregulated foreign influence in the U.S., with potentially dangerous consequences for American democracy.
