WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 4, 2026 – Today, a coalition of 26 major organizations announced the submission of a joint letter to Congressional leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging them to adopt the DETERRENT Act (H.R. 1048 and S. 1296) during this 119th Congress.

The DETERRENT Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support (241–169) in March 2025 and is now under consideration in the Senate, strengthens Section 117 reporting requirements for foreign donations and contracts to institutions of higher education. The legislation is designed to close longstanding gaps in oversight and ensure that foreign influence in American academia is fully disclosed and subject to accountability.

Dr. Charles Asher Small, Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), said:
“ISGAP’s Follow the Money Project has uncovered systematic efforts to circumvent existing transparency requirements under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act. We found that universities have chronically underreported or entirely omitted foreign gifts and contracts from mandatory federal disclosures. It’s paramount that we adopt the DETERRENT Act to enforce the law and safeguard our institutions. The time for voluntary compliance has passed. We urge Congress to act decisively to ensure transparency, accountability, and the protection of American academic institutions—from foreign influence and from efforts that undermine Western and liberal values while advancing extremist narratives.”

Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 requires institutions receiving federal funding to disclose foreign gifts and contracts to the U.S. Department of Education. These disclosures are intended to provide transparency into the scale and sources of foreign funding shaping American higher education. However, recent findings indicate that billions of dollars in foreign funding, particularly from non-democratic states, have gone unreported or underreported, undermining both public transparency and national security safeguards.

Tyler Stapleton, Senior Director of Government Relations, FDD Action, said:
“The U.S. higher education system is being targeted by authoritarian regimes and nations seeking to exploit our students and innovation centers for their own gain. New data and transparency disclosures have shown the shocking extent of foreign influence in U.S. higher education reaching into the billions of dollars annually. China, in particular, is using its universities as a front for its military to partner with leading U.S. universities and gain access to sensitive defense research and intellectual property. The DETERRENT Act would give the Department of Defense and other government agencies additional data on foreign partnership and contracts with U.S. schools that seek to undermine our national security and economic competitiveness. Without greater visibility in higher education, we are ceding ground to America’s adversaries.”

The DETERRENT Act does not prohibit universities from engaging in international partnerships. Rather, it ensures that such engagements are conducted transparently, with accurate reporting of funding sources and amounts. The coalition emphasizes that while global academic collaboration remains valuable, it must be accompanied by clear accountability and oversight.

Allen Friedman, NORPAC, said:
“Antisemitism flourishes in the dark—when those funding it can hide in anonymity. The DETERRENT Act is an essential step toward removing that anonymity.”

The legislation introduces enhanced disclosure requirements, lowers reporting thresholds, strengthens enforcement mechanisms, and imposes penalties for non-compliance. It also includes provisions addressing contracts with entities tied to countries of concern, while incorporating safeguards for individual privacy.

The coalition is calling on Congress to act swiftly to restore transparency, strengthen oversight, and protect the integrity of American higher education.

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The letter to Congressional leaders follows:

May 4, 2026

The Honorable John Thune
Senate Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Senate Minority Leader
U.S. Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
House Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate:

On behalf of the 26 undersigned organizations, we urge Congress to adopt the DETERRENT Act (H.R. 1048 and S. 1296) and ensure its passage into law during this, the 119th Congress.

Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 requires institutions of higher education that receive federal funding to disclose donations from and contracts with a foreign source to the U.S. Department of Education. This allows full transparency and disclosure to the public of foreign funding in our institutions and programs of higher education.

As you know, there have been billions in funding from undemocratic nations to universities that have gone unreported to the U.S. Department of Education as mandated by Section 117, potentially exposing the United States to national security threats and depriving the American public of transparency. The Department of Education’s newly released foreign funding portal improves compliance, and its partnership with the State Department allows data to be reviewed to address potential threats proactively.

The DETERRENT Act passed the House with bipartisan support in March 2025. It amends Section 117 by requiring additional disclosures, restricting contracts with certain foreign entities and countries of concern, requiring staff and faculty to report foreign gifts and contracts, lowering reporting thresholds, and imposing fines for non-compliance.

The Senate version follows the House bill with revisions, including protections for staff and student identity and removal of certain expanded reporting requirements for private university endowments.

Section 117 does not prohibit institutions from accepting foreign funding. It ensures accurate and transparent disclosure to the federal government and the public. The time is now to pass the updated DETERRENT Act.

We look forward to assisting you in this important effort.

Sincerely,

The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy
Transparency International
B’nai B’rith International
The Rabbinical Council
Jewish Federation of North America
The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council
Endowment for Middle East Truth
The American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York
The Hindu American Foundation
CUFI Action Fund
Foundation for Defense of Democracies Action
NORPAC
CLARITy Coalition
The Orthodox Union
Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
Jewish Students for America
Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law
HinduACTion
National Jewish Advocacy Center
North American Values Institute
The Republican Jewish Coalition
Parents Defending Education Action
StandWithUs
Israel Economic Forum
Combat Antisemitism Movement