Sponsors (6)
The bill strengthens national-security oversight by withholding DHS funds and requiring reporting to pressure universities to cut ties with certain Chinese entities, but it risks substantial financial harm, reduced academic opportunities, and compliance uncertainty—especially for smaller colleges.
Colleges and universities that sever covered relationships with certain Chinese entities will regain DHS grants and contracts, and the threat of losing DHS funding creates a strong incentive to eliminate foreign influence on campus.
DHS must report to congressional homeland security committees about institutions with covered relationships, increasing federal transparency and oversight of foreign affiliations.
Colleges with prohibited ties risk losing DHS grants and contracts, which could reduce research funding and jobs — disproportionately harming smaller or DHS-reliant campuses and their students.
Students and researchers could lose access to programs, scholarships, and academic collaborations (including Confucius Institute–linked activities and Chinese partnerships), shrinking research opportunities and language/cultural programs.
Universities may preemptively sever or avoid legitimate academic exchanges and partnerships with Chinese institutions to avoid funding loss, chilling scholarly collaboration and academic freedom.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Institutions of higher education with relationships to Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or defined Chinese entities of concern lose DHS funding eligibility until they terminate those relationships.
Restricts Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for colleges and universities that maintain relationships with Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or certain defined Chinese entities of concern. After a waiting period (12 months after enactment plus the start of the next fiscal year), any institution of higher education with such a relationship becomes ineligible for DHS funds until it ends the relationship; eligibility is restored once the relationship is terminated. The Secretary of Homeland Security must also report to congressional homeland security committees on institutions that have these relationships and receive DHS funds.
Introduced January 31, 2025 by August Pfluger · Last progress May 8, 2025