Afghanistan Vetting and Accountability Act of 2025

Sponsor: Josh Hawley (Republican-MO)December 2, 2025

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Introduced

In Committee

Passed One Chamber

Passed Both Chambers

Signed into Law

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Blocks Afghan evacuees from federal aid if they don't complete new identity and in-person checks.

This bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to verify personal details and conduct in-person interviews for all individuals evacuated from Afghanistan between January 2021 and January 2022. If these individuals do not complete these checks, they would not be able to receive unemployment benefits or other federal assistance. This changes current rules by making these checks mandatory for certain benefits.

What Would Change

Today, there are no explicit legal requirements for the Department of Homeland Security to verify personal and biometric information or conduct in-person vetting for all individuals evacuated from Afghanistan. Also, there is no rule that stops unvetted individuals from receiving federal assistance. If this bill becomes law, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to perform these checks for all Afghan evacuees from a specific period. Individuals who do not complete this vetting would then be unable to receive unemployment payments or other federal benefits.

Key Provisions

Blocks individuals evacuated from Afghanistan from receiving unemployment or federal means-tested public benefits if they do not provide personal and biometric information and undergo in-person vetting.
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to verify personal and biometric information and conduct in-person vetting for all individuals evacuated from Afghanistan between January 20, 2021, and January 20, 2022.
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to create and maintain a database of Afghan evacuee information, including personal details, biometrics, criminal records, and benefit receipt.
Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to send quarterly reports to Congress on vetting progress and a final certification when all vetting is complete.
Requires the Government Accountability Office to audit the Secretary of Homeland Security's compliance with these new rules and report to Congress.

View on Congress.gov

S 3310 · 119th Congress · December 2, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10

Afghanistan Vetting and Accountability Act of 2025

What Would Change

Key Provisions

Lobbying Activity