Republican Congressman Riley Moore has expressed concern over proposed changes to India’s foreign-funding regulations, warning that the legislation could affect India–US relations. The West Virginia lawmaker claimed that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, could allow the Indian government to assume control over churches and religious charities whose registrations are no longer valid.

In a post on X, Moore referred to Christianity’s long history in India and described the proposed amendment as an attack on Christians. He argued that permitting government-appointed authorities to manage certain religious organisations would raise serious concerns in the bilateral relationship. Moore is a first-term member of the US House of Representatives and belongs to President Donald Trump’s Republican Party.

The proposed legislation would empower the Union government to establish a “Designated Authority” responsible for managing foreign contributions and assets created using such funds. This mechanism would apply when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, voluntarily surrendered or deemed to have ceased after it is not renewed. The law regulates foreign donations received by non-governmental organisations, trusts, educational institutions and religious bodies in India.

Also Read: MEA Says No Information on Foreign Funding in NEET Protests

Under the bill, when an affected asset is a place of worship, the designated authority would be required to preserve its existing religious character. This provision indicates that the authority’s role would relate to the management of foreign contributions and assets rather than changing the religious identity of the property. Moore, however, maintained that the proposed powers could still enable government control over churches and charities.

The amendment also proposes reducing the maximum imprisonment for violations of the Act from five years to one year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is expected to introduce the bill in the Lok Sabha next week. Further details about its provisions, implementation and parliamentary scrutiny are likely to become clearer after the legislation is formally tabled and debated.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 13,520 organisations received foreign contributions totalling ₹55,741 crore between 2019 and 2022. Data available on the FCRA portal as of July 15, 2026, showed 14,449 active registration certificates, while 22,498 had been cancelled and 15,212 were listed as expired. The proposed amendment is therefore expected to affect a regulatory framework covering thousands of organisations receiving overseas funding.

Also Read: Delhi University Permits Merit-Based Admissions at Two Colleges to Fill Vacant Seats