Sponsor
Garland H. Barr
Representative · R-KY
Representative · R-KY
The bill tightens national-security controls on foreign ties in federally funded research—preserving funding for some vetted low-risk institutions and increasing congressional oversight, but risking widespread lost grants, chilled academic collaborations, fewer international students, and added compliance burdens for many universities.
Universities with low-risk international enrollment can obtain case-by-case waivers so they can continue receiving federal research funding and participating in collaborations that might otherwise be blocked for national-security reasons.
Congress (and thereby taxpayers) will get transparent reporting on any waivers — including which institutions, foreign collaborators, covered technologies, durations, and IP terms — improving oversight and accountability of government decisions.
Many colleges and universities (and their researchers and staff) could lose federal research grants if they engage with listed foreign entities, leading to reduced research funding, layoffs, and fewer jobs in academia and related tech sectors.
Broad definitions of covered foreign entities and associated individuals could chill legitimate academic collaborations with foreign-trained researchers, alumni, and partners, harming innovation, career prospects, and cross-border research ties.
Students, especially those from countries of concern, may be excluded from research collaborations or discouraged from enrolling, reducing campus diversity and enrollment revenue for affected institutions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Blocks federal funding for fundamental research collaborations with certain foreign 'covered entities' unless an agency grants a national‑security waiver under enrollment-based eligibility rules.
Official title: To provide that no Federal funds may be obligated or expended to award a grant or contract to an institution of higher education for the specific purposes of conducting fundamental research in collaboration with a covered entity.
Introduced September 10, 2025 by Garland H. Barr · Last progress September 10, 2025
Prohibits federal agencies from awarding grants or contracts that fund fundamental research at colleges and universities when the research is done in collaboration with certain foreign “covered entities,” unless an agency head issues a case‑by‑case waiver for national security reasons. Waivers are limited to institutions meeting caps on international enrollment and the share of students from specified foreign countries of concern, and agencies must notify and report to Congress about waiver requests and approvals with detailed information on the collaborations. The law defines key terms by cross‑reference to existing statutes, requires agencies to publish annual compliance reports listing applicants and waiver justifications, and directs the Secretary of State to maintain a list of persecuted groups whose students are excluded from the numerical caps for waiver eligibility.