U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) gestures during the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing investigating fraud in Minnesota state social services, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
(Washington, DC) – Rep. Nancy Mace is pushing legislation that would block foreign-born individuals from serving in several of the most powerful roles in American government.
The proposal would apply to members of Congress, federal judges and Senate-confirmed officers, expanding the natural-born citizenship standard that already applies to the presidency and vice presidency.
Mace argues the measure is about national loyalty and protecting the integrity of the federal government. She says the people writing U.S. laws, ruling from federal courts and holding high-level executive power should have allegiance to America alone.
The legislation is almost certain to spark a major constitutional and political fight. Critics are likely to argue that the proposal targets naturalized citizens who legally became Americans and are already eligible to serve in Congress under the Constitution.
Supporters, however, say the bill raises a serious question about whether top federal authority should be reserved only for Americans who were citizens from birth.
