Congressman Pat Harrigan is pushing a new bill to ban foreign-owned companies like GNC from operating on U.S. military bases, citing serious national security concerns over Chinese government ties.
At a Glance
- Rep. Pat Harrigan introduced legislation to ban adversary-owned retailers from U.S. military bases.
- The bill targets firms from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, requiring full ownership disclosure.
- GNC, now fully owned by China’s Harbin Pharmaceutical Group, is cited as a major concern.
- Harrigan warns these stores could collect sensitive personal data from U.S. troops.
- The bill calls for all future contracts to undergo national security review.
CCP-Controlled Retailers in U.S. Military Installations?
U.S. Representative Pat Harrigan (R-NC) has introduced the Military Installation Retail Security Act of 2025, aimed at ejecting foreign-owned retailers from military bases—particularly those controlled by adversarial regimes. Companies from countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea would be banned from operating on U.S. installations under the proposed law.
A key example is GNC, the health and wellness retailer now 100% owned by Harbin Pharmaceutical Group, a Chinese state-run enterprise. GNC operates roughly 85 stores across military installations nationwide. Harrigan’s bill would require all such companies to disclose their foreign ownership and submit to a national security review before receiving base access.
Lawmaker: Data Exposure Poses Security Risk
In a press release, Harrigan warned that these retailers, though operating in plain sight, may compromise national security. “Right now, a company owned by the Chinese Communist Party is operating over 80 stores on American military bases,” he stated. “These stores are in a position to collect personal data from our troops, operate with almost no oversight, and answer directly to a hostile foreign government.”
The concern is not just theoretical. Harbin’s acquisition of GNC was approved during bankruptcy proceedings in 2020, raising few red flags at the time but now facing scrutiny for allowing a CCP-linked company access to U.S. military consumers.
Harrigan’s bill would allow the Department of Defense to tear up existing contracts with any company found to have misrepresented its ownership structure.
GNC Pushes Back
GNC CEO Michael Costello defended the company in a Bloomberg interview, claiming, “Our Chinese ownership sees no personal information and, in fact, they have zero access to our data and our networks.” He added that no data is transmitted to China from U.S. stores or systems.
Despite these assurances, Harrigan insists on caution, stating, “The Chinese Communist Party has no place inside American military bases.” He called the current arrangement a “stunning failure of judgment” and emphasized that his bill “rips up the contracts, closes every loophole, and ensures our enemies can’t exploit our infrastructure or our people ever again.”
Urgent Corrective Action Needed!
House Bill 17 (similar to SB 17) must be amended to close dangerous loopholes, or we will have two flawed bills that will still allow hostile foreign adversaries to buy/long-term lease our land!
Texas is facing an escalating threat
as hostile…— Grassroots America (@GAWTP) April 1, 2025
Broader National Security Push
The legislation comes amid growing bipartisan scrutiny of foreign influence on American infrastructure. It aligns with similar congressional efforts to limit Chinese access to critical U.S. systems, including technology, farmland, and energy grids. As reported by Just the News, Harrigan’s proposal reflects a larger trend of economic decoupling from adversarial regimes.
The bill, H.R. 2551, is expected to gain support from lawmakers concerned about espionage and digital surveillance risks. While it may face pushback from companies affected by such restrictions, the national security arguments are already drawing bipartisan attention.
