H.R. 9660 – No Hostile ONLOOKERS Act

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Updated July 16, 2026 at 2:35 PM UTC

The No Hostile ONLOOKERS Act bars intelligence agencies from using their money for research, development, or technical support at any U.S. National Laboratory that lets people from designated “countries of risk” (as defined in prior intelligence laws) access the lab’s facilities, information, or technology. The goal is to prevent foreign adversaries from gaining sensitive knowledge through lab collaborations. A waiver is possible, but only with a written certification and justification submitted to the congressional intelligence committees.

Key Provisions

Prohibits intelligence community heads from obligating or spending funds on R&D or technical support at any National Laboratory that permits “covered assignees” or “covered visitors” from countries of risk to access the lab.
Allows a waiver of the prohibition if the intelligence agency head certifies that the work is not vulnerable to foreign collection and provides a justification to the congressional intelligence committees.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee

July 13, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 13, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Intelligence (Permanent Select) Committee

July 13, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 13, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9660

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 13, 2026

Ms. Tenney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

A BILL

To prohibit the use of funds by the intelligence community for research, development, or technical support performed by any National Laboratory that lacks certain security measures.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the No Hostile Operatives in our National Labs Obtaining Our Knowledge which Establishes Risks to our Security Act or the No Hostile ONLOOKERS Act.

2.

Prohibition on intelligence community research, development, or technical support for National Laboratories lacking certain security measures

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Country of risk

The term country of risk has the meaning given such term in section 6432 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159).

(2)

Covered assignee; covered visitor

The terms covered assignee and covered visitor have the meanings given such terms in section 6432 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 119–60).

(3)

National Intelligence Program

The term National Intelligence Program has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003).

(4)

National Laboratory

The term National Laboratory has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

(5)

Nontraditional intelligence collection

The term nontraditional intelligence collection has the meaning given such term in section 6432 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 119–60).

(b)

Prohibition

Except as provided in subsection (c), the head of an element of the intelligence community may not obligate or expend any amount for research, development, or technical support performed by any National Laboratory when such National Laboratory permits covered assignees or covered visitors from countries of risk to access any of the premises, information, or technology of the National Laboratory.

(c)

Waiver

The head of an element of the intelligence community may waive the prohibition in subsection (b) for research, development, or technical support as part of a program, project, or activity of the element that is within the National Intelligence Program if the head submits to the congressional intelligence committees—

(1)

a certification that the research, development, or technical support for which funds are to be expended are not at risk of collection from a foreign intelligence agency or nontraditional intelligence collection; and

(2)

the justification for the waiver.