Terrorist Watchlist Modification Review Act

HR 6563, the Terrorist Watchlist Modification Review Act, requires the FBI Director to notify Congress within 30 days of any significant changes to policies governing the terrorist watchlist or transnational crime watchlist, including additions or removals of individuals. It also mandates an annual report by January 31st (starting in 2026) detailing the number of U.S. persons on the watchlist, including breakdowns by list type (e.g., no-fly, selectee), suspected terrorist affiliations, and which federal agencies nominated them. The bill directly affects the FBI (as the reporting entity) and Congress (as the recipient of notifications and reports). Key mechanisms include mandatory advance notifications of policy changes and standardized annual data collection on U.S. persons listed. The law focuses on increasing transparency around watchlist management without altering the watchlist itself.