Defending Defense Research from Chinese Communist Party Espionage Act of 2025
Defending Defense Research from Chinese Communist Party Espionage Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Defending Defense Research from Chinese Communist Party Espionage Act of 2025 **What the bill does:** This bill would restrict universities and colleges from doing business with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea if they receive research funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. Starting January 1, 2027, schools conducting DOD-funded research would be prohibited from entering contracts with these countries or entities tied to them. Universities that already have such contracts or want to establish them would need to request a waiver from the Defense Department, which would need to be renewed annually.
The bill also places restrictions on researchers leading DOD-funded projects, limiting what they can do after leaving those positions. **Who it affects:** This primarily impacts universities, colleges, and research institutions that receive defense research funding, as well as international researchers and institutions in the specified countries. It could affect U.S.-China academic collaboration, international partnerships in scientific research, and the careers of researchers on defense projects. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (S. 418 in the Senate) and has not yet been voted on or passed. It was introduced by Republican Senator Jim Banks of Indiana during the 119th Congress.
CRS Official Summary
Defending Defense Research from Chinese Communist Party Espionage Act of 2025This bill generally prohibits contracts between certain foreign entities and institutions of higher education that are conducting research funded by the Department of Defense (DOD), and it imposes a post-employment restriction on principal investigators of certain DOD-funded research projects.Beginning on January 1, 2027, the bill generally prohibits institutions of higher education that conduct DOD-funded research from entering into contracts with North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran or a foreign entity of concern (e.g., an academic institution of China that meets certain criteria). DOD is prohibited from providing funds to such institutions unless the institution receives a waiver.Institutions seeking to contract with the listed countries or entities, and those with existing contracts, must submit waiver requests to DOD. Waivers are valid for one year. Institutions with contracts that are longer than one year may apply to renew the waiver for an additional one-year period. The bill also generally imposes a post-employment restriction on individuals who serve as principal investigators of certain defense research projects, unless DOD waives the restriction. Specifically, for the 10 years following their employment as a principal investigator, an individual may not seek or accept employment or conduct any activity for which a foreign entity of concern provides compensation. This applies to principal investigators of projects that are (1) operated by an institution of higher education; (2) funded by DOD; and (3) involve a critical or emerging technology, as determined by DOD.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.