The updated system aims to improve transparency regarding foreign funding disclosure.
The Department of Education has announced a new foreign funding reporting portal for postsecondary educational institutions, citing that no major “meaningful” updates had been made since President Trump’s first term in office. Section 117 of the Higher Education Act outlines that applicable institutions “must report all foreign gifts and contracts that alone, or in combination with all others from the foreign source, total $250,000 or more in a calendar year.” Reports must be submitted biannually.
The Section 117 reporting portal has been updated based on feedback and usage from 9 universities, and will go live on January 2nd, 2026. Investigations into universities reported to have submitted “inaccurate and untimely” information regarding foreign contributions have been ongoing since January 20, 2025.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said, “America’s taxpayer-funded colleges and universities have both a moral and legal obligation to be fully transparent with the U.S. government and the American people about their foreign financial relationships. We are grateful to the many stakeholders for their feedback in designing this portal and look forward to vigorously protecting our educational institutions from potentially harmful foreign influence.”
Congress has also taken an interest in gifts and contracts from companies based in China.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary McMahon to be prudent as she continues efforts to increase transparency in the education system.
- For U.S. education officials as they work on the launch of the new reporting portal.
- For U.S. federal tech security personnel as they maintain new government pages and sites.
Sources: Department of Education, Congress
