Disclose GIFT Act
Key claim: The Disclose GIFT Act would require certain large federally funded higher-education institutions to make researchers annually disclose foreign gifts and contracts, maintain a public searchable database of those disclosures, and adopt plans to manage foreign espionage risks arising from such relationships.
Abstract
(HR1999 · 119th Congress) Disclose Getting Involved in Foreign Transactions Act or the Disclose GIFT Act This bill requires certain institutions of higher education (IHEs) to disclose gifts or contracts between covered individuals (e.g., researchers) and foreign sources. This bill applies to an IHE that (1) is an eligible institution for purposes of federal student aid programs, and (2) has received more than $50 million in federal funds in any of the previous five calendar years (with at least part to support research and development) or that receives certain other federal funds. Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to maintain a policy requiring covered individuals employed at the IHE to annually disclose gifts received from, or contracts entered into with, a foreign source; a publicly available and searchable database with the disclosed information, excluding personally identifiable information; and a plan to identify and manage potential information gathering by foreign sources through espionage targeting covered individuals that may arise from such gifts or contracts. The bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to investigate possible violations of this bill and outlines the various penalties for each violation. Additionally, ED must maintain a single point of contact to, among other duties, receive and respond to inquiries and requests for technical assistance from IHEs regarding compliance with the requirements of the bill. IHEs must also establish policies and designate compliance officers. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on ways to improve intergovernmental agency coordination for implementing and enforcing disclosure reporting requirements. Latest action (2025-03-10): Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Why this matters
The Disclose GIFT Act would shift higher-ed foreign-influence transparency from institution-level Section 117 reporting toward individual researcher disclosures backed by a public searchable database and mandatory espionage-risk management plans, materially changing compliance burdens for major federally funded universities and their faculty. It fits within a growing cluster of measures (USRPA, HR9602, Countering CCP Act) tightening federal oversight of foreign gifts, contracts, and talent-recruitment ties at IHEs. For institutions, it signals potential new ED enforcement exposure; for researchers, a new personal disclosure obligation.