INSTRUCT Act of 2025

The INSTRUCT Act of 2025 proposes to increase federal oversight of foreign financial influence at American colleges and universities. Under current law, institutions of higher education must report any gifts or contracts from foreign sources valued at $250,000 or more to the Department of Education. This bill would require the Department of Education to share unredacted copies of these reports with 11 different federal agencies, including the FBI, the Department of State, and the Department of Homeland Security, within 30 days of receipt.

If enacted, the bill would also apply retroactively, requiring the Department of Education to hand over all previously received disclosure reports and records from past compliance investigations to these federal agencies. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office would be tasked with studying how to better coordinate enforcement of these reporting requirements across the federal government. For everyday citizens, this legislation aims to increase transparency regarding foreign funding in academia and enhance the government's ability to monitor potential national security risks or foreign interference in the U.S. education system.