New Bill Mandates Major Review of Foreign Investment, Targets CCP Influence, and Grants Commerce Secretary Broad Power

The Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2025 is basically Congress saying, “We need more cash flow from our friends, and we need a better plan to block money from our rivals.” The bill sets a national goal: making the U.S. the top spot for investment, especially in high-tech fields like AI and quantum computing, but only from private companies in countries we trust. This isn't just about attracting money; it’s about shoring up our supply chains and cutting down reliance on places like China.

The Great Foreign Investment Deep Dive

The core of this bill is Section 3, which mandates a massive review of foreign direct investment (FDI), led by the Secretary of Commerce and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Think of it as a year-long audit to figure out who is investing in the U.S., where the money is going, and how effective our current policies are at bringing in the “good” kind of investment—the kind that builds new factories (called greenfield investment) and creates jobs. They have one year from the bill's passage to deliver a final report to Congress with recommendations on making the U.S. more competitive.

Who Gets the 'Trusted' Sticker?

Here’s where things get interesting, and potentially a little murky. The bill gives the Secretary of Commerce the power to define two crucial terms: a “Responsible private-sector entity” and a “Trusted country.” A trusted country is simply one the Secretary hasn't decided is an adversary. A responsible entity is one that isn't set up or influenced by a foreign adversary. For a company director or a small business owner looking for capital, this means your access to foreign funding might suddenly depend on a determination made in Washington, D.C., potentially without a clear, public rulebook. This broad, discretionary power could create uncertainty for investors who aren't sure if their funding sources will suddenly be deemed 'untrusted' by the Secretary.

The China Focus: Blocking State-Backed Cash

A huge chunk of the review is focused squarely on the threats posed by state-backed investments, particularly those directed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The review must collect specific data on how prevalent these state-backed acquisitions are in American manufacturing and services, and investigate how the CCP might be trying to bypass existing U.S. laws to get access to our markets and intellectual property. For U.S. tech startups, this could mean tighter scrutiny on who is allowed to buy them, which is meant to protect valuable IP but could also complicate finding buyers if the pool of foreign investors shrinks.

What’s Off the Table and Why It Matters

Crucially, the review will not look at any laws or policies related to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). CFIUS is the existing federal body that reviews foreign acquisitions for national security risks. By excluding CFIUS from this new review, the bill creates a separate, parallel process focused on attraction and competitiveness rather than security oversight. While the goal is to streamline investment, this separation might lead to regulatory overlap or, worse, a gap in coordination between the agencies tasked with inviting money in and the ones tasked with blocking threats.

Your Input Is Required

Before the Commerce Department even starts the review, they have to ask the public what topics they should cover. And before they send the final report to Congress, they have to publish their findings and recommendations for public comment. This is a rare, direct chance for everyday people—whether you work in manufacturing, tech, or trade—to weigh in on how the U.S. should be managing global capital flows. If you have strong feelings about protecting domestic jobs or attracting investment to your state, keep an eye on the Federal Register; this is your window to provide feedback on the policy direction.