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Congress·Passed House·11 months ago

House Passes DETERRANT Act Tightening Rules on Foreign Gifts to U.S. Colleges

Also known as: Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
✓ Review
✓ House

241–169

Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This policy lowers the amount of money colleges can receive from foreign sources before they have to tell the government. Currently, schools only report gifts over $250,000, but this change would require them to report any gift or contract worth $50,000 or more.
  • For 'countries of concern,' such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, schools would have to report every single dollar they receive. In most cases, colleges would be banned from signing contracts with these countries unless they receive a special waiver from the Department of Education.
  • At large research universities, individual teachers and staff members would also have to report gifts they receive from foreign sources if the value is over $5,000. This is meant to prevent foreign governments from secretly influencing the research or teaching happening at American schools.
  • The government would create a public, searchable website where anyone can look up which foreign countries are giving money to specific colleges. This database would include the names of the foreign sources and what the money is being used for, such as specific research projects or new campus departments.
  • Schools that hide this information or refuse to follow the rules could face massive fines. If a school is caught breaking the rules three times, they could lose their ability to accept federal student loans and grants, which would be a major financial blow to the institution.
EducationNational Security Foreign Policy

Milestones

5 milestones35 actions
Mar 31, 2025Senate

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Mar 27, 2025House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Mar 27, 2025House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 169 (Roll no. 83).

Mar 27, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 169 (Roll no. 83).

Mar 27, 2025House

The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 30 days of enactment

Universities with existing contracts with countries of concern must submit waiver requests to the Department of Education

Schools that currently have contracts with entities in countries like China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea have just 30 days to either get government approval or start winding down those contracts. This could disrupt ongoing research partnerships and exchange programs.

By May 31 of the calendar year after enactment

Public searchable database of foreign gifts and contracts goes live

Anyone will be able to go online and look up which foreign countries and entities are sending money to specific colleges, how much they gave, and what the money is used for. This is a major new transparency tool.

July 31 of the first full calendar year after enactment

First annual disclosure reports due from institutions and individual faculty/staff

Universities and their research faculty must submit detailed reports about all foreign gifts and contracts from the previous year by July 31. This is when the full scope of foreign financial ties to U.S. higher education will first become visible under the new, stricter rules.

Vote Results

3 votes
HouseFailedAmendmentMar 27, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

Rules Committee

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 93, the amendment printed in part A of House Report 119-2 is considered as adopted.

92
321
Democrat
0 – 201 · 15
Republican
92 – 120 · 8
View full roll call
HouseFailedAmendmentMar 27, 2025

On Agreeing to the Amendment

An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part B of House Report 119-2 to delay the enactment of this bill until the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General each certify that the bill will lead to a reduction in overdose deaths.

3
410
Democrat
3 – 199 · 14
Republican
0 – 211 · 9
View full roll call
HousePassedPassageMar 27, 2025

On Passage

241
169
Democrat
31 – 168 · 14
Republican
210 – 1 · 6
View full roll call

Related News

4 articles
Politico Pro·11 months ago

House passes college foreign gifts reporting bill

House lawmakers approved a bill to crack down on foreign gifts and contracts accepted by college campuses with a 241-169 bipartisan vote. The DETERRENT Act would tighten reporting requirements under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, lowering the threshold from $250,000 to $50,000.

C=
The Times of Israel·11 months ago

US House advances bill requiring universities to disclose more foreign funding

The DETERRENT Act passed the House with support from Jewish organizations concerned that money from countries such as Qatar and Iran are funding anti-Israel messaging on campuses. The bill lowers the reporting threshold for gifts from most foreign countries from $250,000 to $50,000.

C=
ChinaFile·about 2 years ago

New Security Measures Curtailing the Study of China Alarm Educators

Educators warn that laws like the DETERRENT Act, which bars universities from entering contracts with 'countries of concern' and lowers reporting thresholds to $0 for those nations, are contributing to a 'securitization' of China studies that could chill international academic collaboration.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

DETERRENT Act

Bill NumberHR 1048
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(21)
D: 2R: 19

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.