The AAMC joined 18 other higher education organizations in a June 15 letter expressing concern (PDF) that the Department of Education’s proposed revisions to the Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosure requirements exceed the department’s statutory authority under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act (P.L. 89-329, PDF). Section 117 requires colleges and universities to report certain foreign gifts and contracts to the federal government.
The letter emphasizes that the proposal would impose significant new obligations on institutions beyond what Congress intended in the statute. Specifically, the proposal would require institutions to collect donor names and permit that information to be made public, while also creating additional requirements for institution employees to certify compliance with Section 117. The letter further urges the department to engage more closely with higher education stakeholders in implementing the new system and raises concerns about both the administrative burden of transitioning to a new platform and the potential privacy risks.
The proposal closed for public comments on June 15, 2026. The next upcoming deadline for institutions to submit foreign gift reporting data to the department is July 31.
- Washington Highlights