US lawmaker calls FCRA amendment 'attack on Christians', warns of impact on India-US ties

A U.S. Congressman has expressed concern over proposed amendments to India's Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), warning that the move could strain bilateral ties between the two countries.

In a post on social media platform X, Congressman Riley Moore, a Republican from West Virginia, said the amendments would permit the Indian government to take over churches and religious charities, describing it as 'a clear attack against Christians'.

Moore, a first-term Congressman, noted the historical presence of Christians in India, saying, 'Christians have been in India since St Thomas the Apostle travelled to the Malabar Coast just decades after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But despite this long Christian history, India's Parliament is considering amending Foreign Contribution Regulation Amendment (FCRA) rules to permit government takeovers of churches and religious charities.'

He added, 'If this bill proceeds in this way, it would be a point of major concern in our bilateral relationship with India.'

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, currently being considered by Parliament, seeks to empower the government to create a 'Designated Authority' to take over the management of foreign contributions and assets created using such funds when an organisation's FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered, or ceases due to non-renewal.

The bill also stipulates that in the case of assets that are places of worship, the Authority must ensure that their religious character is maintained. Additionally, the proposed legislation reduces the maximum penalty for violation of the Act from five years of imprisonment to one year.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 13,520 organisations received ₹55,741 crore in foreign contributions between 2019 and 2022. The FCRA portal shows that, as of July 15, 2026, there are 14,449 active FCRA certificates, 22,498 cancelled, and 15,212 deemed expired.

The remarks by Moore come amid ongoing debates in India over the regulation of foreign funding and its impact on civil society organisations, religious institutions, and other entities.