Republican lawmaker Riley Moore alleges proposed changes could affect churches and religious charities, prompting debate over foreign funding rules
US Republican Congressman Riley Moore has criticised India’s proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), describing the changes as “a clear attack against Christians” and warning that they could become a point of concern in bilateral relations between India and the United States.
Moore, who represents West Virginia in the US House of Representatives, made the remarks in a post on X after details of the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 emerged. He claimed the legislation would allow the Indian government to assume control of churches and religious charities whose FCRA registrations are cancelled or expire.
Referring to the long history of Christianity in India, Moore argued that the proposed changes would undermine religious institutions and said the issue could affect the broader India-US partnership if enacted in its present form
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the law governing foreign donations received by non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, charities and religious bodies. Among its key provisions is the creation of a “Designated Authority” empowered to manage foreign-funded assets and contributions when an organisation loses its FCRA registration. The Bill also specifies that if such assets include places of worship, their religious character must be preserved. It further proposes reducing the maximum prison term for violations of the Act from five years to one year.
According to official data cited in reports, more than 13,500 organisations received foreign contributions between 2019 and 2022. As of mid-July 2026, over 14,400 organisations held active FCRA registrations, while more than 22,000 registrations had been cancelled and over 15,000 had expired.
The proposed amendments are expected to be debated in Parliament, where they are likely to attract scrutiny from both domestic stakeholders and international observers as discussions continue over the regulation of foreign funding and the functioning of civil society organisations.
