Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) is advocating for changes to House rules that would mandate background checks for House staffers, citing concerns about foreign interference on Capitol Hill. Her proposed resolution would require staffers to disclose any dual citizenship and employment with foreign governments.
Cammack stated, "I can tell you a target-rich environment would be an investigation into all of the trips that staff take abroad at the expense of foreign governments." She emphasized that the issue is bipartisan and affects both parties.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Cammack noted that while she has received some support for the resolution, House leadership has not prioritized bringing it to a vote. "I have presented this to leadership multiple times and while everyone agrees that it’s a good idea, there seems to be zero urgency," she said.
Currently, congressional staffers can access sensitive information without undergoing background checks, unlike federal employees in the executive branch. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has called for immediate action on the resolution, stating that it requires a simple majority vote to be enacted.
Luna mentioned that disturbing declassified files regarding a former member of Congress and their interns, who may have connections to foreign governments, will be released soon. Cammack expressed surprise that many members of Congress were unaware that their staff did not undergo background checks, saying, "People who I spoke to on both sides of the aisle were stunned to find out that their staff was not automatically checked by Capitol Police or sergeant-at-arms for the background check."
She added that the resolution aims for a universal transparency standard without singling out any specific nation. However, Cammack acknowledged that there has been pushback regarding the disclosure of dual citizenship and ties to organizations funded by foreign governments.