This bill would require colleges and universities to disclose any gifts or contracts they receive from foreign sources associated with North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran, regardless of the amount. The goal is to increase transparency and oversight of foreign influence on American higher education.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill would require colleges and universities to disclose any gifts or contracts they receive from foreign sources associated with North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran, regardless of the amount. The goal is to increase transparency and oversight of foreign influence on American higher education.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Safeguarding American Education From Foreign Control Act</strong></p><p>This bill establishes a special disclosure rule requiring institutions of higher education (IHEs) to disclose any gift from or contract with a foreign source that is associated with a covered nation (i.e., North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran).</p><p>Under current law, an IHE must disclose to the Department of Education (ED) a gift from or contract with a foreign source that is valued at $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with that foreign source. This bill establishes a special disclosure rule relating to foreign sources associated with covered nations. Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to disclose any gift from or contract with a foreign source that is associated with a covered nation, regardless of the amount of the gift or contract.</p><p>The bill also directs ED to (1) transmit disclosure reports and related records to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and (2) transmit periodic disclosure reports to the Department of State. Further, ED must notify the FBI and the ODNI regarding its investigations into noncompliance.</p><p>The bill allows the FBI and the ODNI to request that the Department of Justice bring a civil action to compel compliance with disclosure requirements.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
The bill establishes a special disclosure rule for colleges and universities regarding gifts or contracts from foreign sources associated with certain countries (North Korea, China, Russia, Iran).
Colleges and universities would have to report these foreign connections to the Department of Education, which would then share the information with the FBI and intelligence agencies.
The bill allows the FBI and intelligence agencies to take legal action to compel colleges and universities to comply with the disclosure requirements.
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill would primarily impact colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher education in the United States. If enacted, they would face new reporting requirements and potential legal action for not properly disclosing foreign funding sources tied to specific countries. This could increase administrative burdens and transparency around international partnerships and funding.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Education
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
2856, 119th Congress (2025). "Wildfire Smoke Relief Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-2856
