Congress News. The House passed the Deterrent Act to keep foreign interference out of our universities.

Congratulations to Congressman Michael Baumgartner on the passage of his bill

The DETERRENT Act (H.R. 1048), or the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act, is a bipartisan legislative effort aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in the financial relationships between U.S. colleges and universities and foreign entities. Key aspects of the bill include:

Purpose

• To combat malign foreign influence in U.S. higher education institutions, particularly from adversarial nations like China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
• To address concerns about intellectual property theft, national security risks, and the spread of antisemitic or anti-American sentiments on campuses126.

Key Provisions

1. Lower Reporting Thresholds:
   • Reduces the foreign gift reporting threshold for colleges and universities from $250,000 to $50,000.
   • Requires a $0 threshold for reporting gifts or contracts involving countries of concern56.
2. Expanded Reporting:
   • Mandates disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts involving individual faculty members and staff at research-intensive institutions.
   • Establishes a searchable public database for all disclosed information to ensure transparency45.
3. Restrictions on Contracts:
   • Prohibits institutions from entering into contracts with foreign countries or entities of concern unless a waiver is granted after full disclosure4.
4. Enforcement Mechanisms:
   • Imposes penalties on noncompliant institutions, including fines and potential loss of Title IV federal funding5.

Support and Debate

• Supporters argue the bill is necessary to safeguard U.S. national security, prevent economic espionage, and uphold academic integrity by exposing foreign influence in higher education123.
• Critics, including some Democrats, have raised concerns about overly stringent reporting requirements and potential overreach by the Department of Education6.

Legislative Status

The House passed the DETERRENT Act on March 27, 2025, with bipartisan support (241-169). A companion bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate36.

Citations:

1. https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=412299
2. https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/afpi-reaffirms-its-support-for-h.r-1048-deterrent-act
3. https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=412300
4. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5933/text
5. https://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/10.11.23_deterrent_act_118th_congress_bill_fact_sheet_final_pdf.pdf
6. https://www.naicu.edu/news-events/washington-update/2025/march-28/house-passes-deterrent-act-again/
7. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1048
8. http://baumgartner.house.gov/media/press-releases/baumgartners-deterrent-act-passes-house-combat-foreign-influence-us-colleges
9. https://www.rjchq.org/update_house_passes_the_deterrent_act
10. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/61244
11. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1048/text

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Sources : Midtown Tribune, Congress.gov
Edworkforce.House.gov

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