House Republican Introduces Bill to Increase Penalties for Spies Working for US Adversaries

‘For too long, our top adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have stolen our secrets ... That ends now,’ Rep. Pat Harrigan says.

(L-R) U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) speaks as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) looks on during a news conference following a closed-door meeting with House Republicans, at the Republican National Committee office on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 25, 2025. Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images

Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) has introduced new legislation that would mandate harsher prison terms for those responsible for carrying out espionage for America’s top adversaries, namely China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Harrigan, who serves on the House’s Armed Services and Science, Space and Technology committees, introduced the Foreign Adversary Federal Offense (FAFO) Act (HR 4081), which would set a minimum prison sentence of 15 years for defense-related espionage and at least 10 years in prison without parole for economic espionage.