Sponsor
Daniel Scott Sullivan
Senator · R-AK
Senator · R-AK
The bill reduces the risk of foreign-government influence in U.S. higher education by blocking certain foreign-linked funding, but at the cost of potential research funding losses, higher compliance burdens, and reduced international academic collaboration.
Colleges and universities would face less risk of foreign government influence because funding tied to governments designated as security risks would be blocked.
Students would retain the ability to pay tuition and other cost-of-attendance items without disruption because those payments are excluded from the prohibition.
Colleges and universities could lose research funding and partnerships from institutions tied to designated countries, potentially reducing research output and jobs.
Universities would face increased compliance costs and a more uncertain funding environment because the Secretary can designate countries after security consultations.
Academic collaboration and exchange with scholars from designated countries may be chilled, limiting educational and cultural exchange opportunities for students and faculty.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bans higher education institutions from accepting gifts or contracts from designated “foreign countries of concern” and updates foreign gift disclosure rules.
Official title: Amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving gifts from or entering into contracts with foreign countries of concern.
Introduced May 13, 2025 by Daniel Scott Sullivan · Last progress May 13, 2025
Prohibits colleges and universities from accepting gifts or entering contracts with any “foreign country of concern,” as newly defined, and updates foreign gift disclosure rules in the Higher Education Act. The bill defines which countries qualify as countries of concern and lets the Secretary of Education, after consulting Defense, State, and the DNI, add countries that pose national security or foreign policy risks. The ban does not apply to ordinary student payments like tuition, room and board, fees, or other cost-of-attendance items.