DETERRENT Act

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Bill ID: 119/hr/1048
Last Updated: July 12, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]

ID: B001322

Follow the money

The bill

DETERRENT Act

HR. 1048, 119th Congress — read as touching For-Profit Education & Student Loans.

The sponsor

Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$126,974 raised

26 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

85% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Education" section, p. 389-391 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

March 30, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

Passed House

Senate Review

📍 Current Status

Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. The DETERRENT Act, a bill so cleverly named it's almost as if they're trying to distract us from its true purpose.

Let's dissect this monstrosity:

**New regulations being created or modified:** Ah, yes, because what higher education institutions really needed was more paperwork and bureaucratic red tape. The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen disclosure requirements for foreign gifts and contracts. Because, you know, those sneaky foreigners are just waiting to infiltrate our esteemed institutions with their nefarious gifts.

**Affected industries and sectors:** Higher education, naturally. But let's not forget the real beneficiaries: the politicians who get to grandstand about "defending education transparency" while lining their pockets with campaign donations from the very same institutions they're supposedly regulating.

**Compliance requirements and timelines:** Institutions must file disclosure reports on July 31 of each year, detailing gifts and contracts with foreign sources. Oh, and if you're substantially controlled by a foreign source (because that's not already a recipe for disaster), you get to file even more reports! The contents of these reports are a laundry list of minutiae, because who doesn't love a good game of bureaucratic bingo?

**Enforcement mechanisms and penalties:** Ah, the teeth of this bill. Institutions that fail to comply will face... *dramatic pause* ...investigations by the Secretary! Oh no, the horror! And if they're found guilty, they might even have to produce an unredacted copy of the contract. The very thought sends shivers down my spine.

**Economic and operational impacts:** Let's be real; this bill is a jobs program for compliance officers and lawyers. Institutions will need to hire more staff to deal with the increased paperwork burden, which will inevitably lead to higher tuition costs and more student debt. But hey, at least we'll have "transparency"!

In conclusion, the DETERRENT Act is a textbook example of legislative malpractice. It's a solution in search of a problem, designed to appease the politicians' base while enriching their donors. The real disease here is not foreign influence, but rather the corruption and incompetence that pervades our government.

Diagnosis: Terminal case of bureaucratic bloat, with symptoms including unnecessary regulations, increased compliance costs, and a healthy dose of hypocrisy. Prognosis: Poor. Treatment: A strong dose of skepticism and a healthy disregard for the politicians who peddle this nonsense.

Related Topics

Education & Student Aid
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$126,974
21 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$12,900
Committees
$0
Individuals
$114,074

No PAC contributions found

1
THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE COLVILLE RESERVATION
3 transactions
$8,600
2
KALISPEL TRIBAL ECONOMIC AUTHORITY
2 transactions
$3,300
3
YAKAMA NATION
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
JHASHI, VAJA
1 transaction
$13,200
2
PLATH, PETER
2 transactions
$13,200
3
SCHNAUBELT, CHRISTOPHER
2 transactions
$6,870
4
BENNETT, GREGG
1 transaction
$6,600
5
CONNORS, JOHN
1 transaction
$6,600
6
CONNORS, KATHY
1 transaction
$6,600
7
MERCK, MAGGIE
1 transaction
$6,600
8
ODERMAT, MARY
1 transaction
$6,600
9
PARKS, DAVE
1 transaction
$6,600
10
CHAUDHRY, ASIF
1 transaction
$6,600
11
MAHMOOD, ARSHAD
1 transaction
$6,600
12
SLIVKA, BENJAMIN
1 transaction
$5,829
13
JOHNSON, KEVIN
1 transaction
$5,000
14
ANDERSON, MARK
1 transaction
$3,435
15
BRIDGEWATER, JACK
1 transaction
$3,435
16
HERCHE, THOMAS
1 transaction
$3,435
17
RINDLAUB, SARAH
1 transaction
$3,435
18
WETZEL, SCOTT
1 transaction
$3,435

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Messmer, Mark [R-IN-8]

ID: M001233

Top Contributors

10

1
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
2
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
3
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
4
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
5
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
6
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
7
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
8
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
9
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
10
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,000
Apr 11, 2024

Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

ID: O000086

Top Contributors

10

1
UTE INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationFORT DUCHESNE, UT
$3,300
Nov 12, 2024
2
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$2,000
Sep 30, 2024
3
PALMER, JEFFERY
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualMAPLETON, UT
$13,200
May 29, 2023
4
JENKINS, JAMES W.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSALT LAKE CITY, UT
$10,000
May 13, 2024
5
HOLSCHER, KELLY
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualPACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$6,600
Aug 22, 2024
6
LISONBEE, DAVID
4LIFE RESEARCH • BUSINESS OWNER
IndividualPROVO, UT
$6,600
Mar 19, 2024
7
OVERHOLT, DAVID W. MR.
UNIFIED PURCHASING GROUP • PRESIDENT
IndividualSOUTH JORDAN, UT
$6,600
Apr 3, 2024
8
DAICHENDT, JOE
ACI JET • BUSINESS OWNER
IndividualLADERA RANCH, CA
$6,600
Mar 16, 2023
9
GRIFFIN, KENNETH
CITADEL LLC • FOUNDER CEO
IndividualMIAMI BEACH, FL
$6,600
Apr 10, 2023
10
PALMER, KELLY
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualMAPLETON, UT
$6,600
Jun 13, 2023

Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12]

ID: A000372

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEVY CHASE ENERGY LLC
OrganizationHOUSTON, TX
$500
May 19, 2023
2
RHODES, JIMMY MR.
TAXSLAYER • OWNER
IndividualEVANS, GA
$3,300
Nov 2, 2024
3
MASSEY, JON G.
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualFOLSOM, LA
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
4
RHODES, KERRY MRS.
NONE • HOMEMAKER
IndividualEVANS, GA
$3,300
Nov 2, 2024
5
DORE, WILLIAM J. SR.
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualMOUNTAIN BRK, AL
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
6
BAKER, ROBERT D
DUFFEY SOUTHEAST, INC. • CONSTRUCTION
IndividualCEDARTOWN, GA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
7
STEPHENSON, DONNA Y. MR.
NONE • HOMEMAKER
IndividualATLANTA, GA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
8
HATCHER, MARILEE MRS.
MAU, INC • SPECIAL EVENT COORDINATOR
IndividualAUGUSTA, GA
$3,300
Dec 11, 2023
9
WINCHESTER, GAYLE MRS.
NONE • RETIRED
IndividualATLANTA, GA
$3,300
Oct 13, 2023
10
STEPHENSON, DONNA Y. MR.
NONE • HOMEMAKER
IndividualATLANTA, GA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023

Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3]

ID: K000401

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$30
Oct 24, 2024
2
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$10
Oct 29, 2024
3
BENNETT WEST ROSEVILLE LLC
NOT INCORPORATED
OrganizationORANGEVALE, CA
$3,000
Oct 21, 2024
4
NICHOLSON & OLSON, CPAS
UNINCORPORATED PARTNERSHIP
OrganizationROSEVILLE, CA
$750
Jun 28, 2023
5
NASH, JILL
N/A • NOT EMPLOYOED
IndividualLINCOLN, CA
$6,600
Jul 22, 2024
6
ROWE, SUSAN
N/A • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualBAKERSFIELD, CA
$6,600
May 20, 2024
7
BURKE, TIM
QUEST TECHNOLOGY • BUSINESS OWNER
IndividualORANGEVALE, CA
$6,600
Oct 10, 2024
8
SMYTH, CHARLES
IndividualGRANITE BAY, CA
$6,600
Nov 3, 2024
9
FRANCK, KASI
SELF • DENTIST
IndividualROCKLIN, CA
$6,600
Dec 28, 2023
10
BRADLEY, KATHERINE
CITYBRIDGE FOUNDATION • BOARD CHAIR
IndividualWASHINGTON, DC
$5,000
Sep 11, 2024

Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]

ID: W000798

Top Contributors

10

1
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationDOWAGIAC, MI
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
2
WEIR FARMS
OrganizationHANOVER, MI
$500
Aug 21, 2023
3
WEIR FARMS
OrganizationHANOVER, MI
$500
Aug 12, 2024
4
HAWORTH, ETHELYN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSAUGATUCK, MI
$47,900
Jun 5, 2024
5
HONIG, KEN
KEN HONIG • BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
IndividualNEW PORT BEACH, CA
$31,600
May 30, 2024
6
HAWORTH, RICHARD
HAWORTH INC • CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IndividualSAUGATUCK, MI
$11,600
May 9, 2024
7
KLARR, GUNNAR
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualJACKSON, MI
$10,000
Dec 29, 2023
8
HAWORTH, RICHARD
HAWORTH INC • CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IndividualSAUGATUCK, MI
$10,000
Nov 4, 2024
9
DRESNER, LINDA
SELF • RETIRED
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Dec 7, 2023
10
LEVY, EDWARD C JR.
EDWARD C LEVY COMPANY • EXECUTIVE
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Dec 7, 2023

Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]

ID: W000795

Top Contributors

10

1
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION
OrganizationROCK HILL, SC
$2,000
May 6, 2024
2
LEVKOWITZ, HOWARD
SELF EMPLOYED • INVESTOR
IndividualLOS ANGELES, CA
$6,600
Nov 28, 2023
3
VICKAR, KERRY
LKV MANAGEMENT • CHAIRMAN
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$5,000
Nov 21, 2023
4
LOWELL, RANDY R.
BURR FORMAN • ATTORNEY
IndividualISLE OF PALMS, SC
$3,700
May 8, 2024
5
VALLARINO, MANUEL R.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSURFSIDE BEACH, SC
$3,300
Oct 29, 2024
6
VALLARINO, MARY EMILY J.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualSURFSIDE BEACH, SC
$3,300
Oct 29, 2024
7
CASSELS, W. TOBIN III
SOUTHEASTERN FREIGHT LINES • PRESIDENT
IndividualCOLUMBIA, SC
$3,300
Dec 1, 2023
8
CASSELS, W. TOBIN JR.
SOUTHEASTERN FREIGHT LINES • CHAIRMAN & CEO
IndividualCOLUMBIA, SC
$3,300
Dec 1, 2023
9
HOEFER, JOHN M. S. ESQ.
WILLOUGHBY & HOEFER P.A. • ATTORNEY
IndividualCOLUMBIA, SC
$3,300
Nov 8, 2023
10
LIEBERMAN, JEREMY A.
KLEE TUCHIN BOGDANOFF & STERN LLP • ATTORNEY
IndividualFLUSHING, NY
$3,300
Oct 31, 2023

Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6]

ID: R000619

Top Contributors

10

1
10SIX CONSUTLING
OrganizationHUDSON, WI
$10,000
Mar 29, 2024
2
10SIX CONSUTLING
OrganizationHUDSON, WI
$10,000
Mar 31, 2024
3
10SIX CONSUTLING
OrganizationHUDSON, WI
$6,000
Mar 28, 2024
4
10SIX CONSUTLING
OrganizationHUDSON, WI
$6,000
Mar 31, 2024
5
BUCKEYE JUNCTION LLC
OrganizationCOLUMBUS, OH
$1,000
Dec 20, 2023
6
LEHMAN PUBLIC POLICY LLC
OrganizationNEWARK, OH
$500
Dec 12, 2023
7
NELSON GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES LLC
OrganizationCOLUMBUS, OH
$350
Dec 12, 2023
8
SMITH, GREGORY B. MR. SR.
COMPCO • CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
IndividualCOLUMBIANA, OH
$6,600
Mar 11, 2024
9
MILLER, SAMUEL
TRUMBULL INDUSTRIES • OWNER
IndividualYOUNGSTOWN, OH
$6,600
Mar 15, 2024
10
SMITH, GREGORY B. MR. SR.
IndividualCOLUMBIANA, OH
$6,600
Mar 14, 2024

Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]

ID: F000450

Top Contributors

10

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Apr 26, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$2,000
Dec 18, 2023
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF CHUMASH INDIANS
OrganizationSANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Mar 11, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 31, 2023
5
CATAWBA NATION TRIBE
OrganizationROCK HILL, SC
$1,500
Mar 1, 2024
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,500
Jun 30, 2023
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationBANNING, CA
$1,500
Apr 29, 2024
8
MOORE, JOHN T. MR.
MARWOOD GROUP • CEO
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Aug 26, 2024
9
BARKER, PATRICIA M. MRS.
BOB BARKER CO • CORP SECRETARY
IndividualFUQUAY VARINA, NC
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
10
DRESCHER, STEPHANIE MS.
APOLLO • PARTNER
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024

Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

ID: G000576

Top Contributors

10

1
HO CHUNK NATION
OrganizationBLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
2
GENTINE, LOUIS P. II
SARGENTO • EXECUTIVE
IndividualELKHART LAKE, WI
$13,200
Mar 15, 2024
3
SCHLIFSKE, JOHN E.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL • GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
IndividualELM GROVE, WI
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
4
SCHLIFSKE, KIM C.
HOMEMAKER • HOMEMAKER
IndividualELM GROVE, WI
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
5
LEVY, EDWARD
EDWARD C LEVY CO • CHAIRMAN
IndividualBIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Apr 10, 2024
6
KRESS, DONALD F.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualGREEN BAY, WI
$5,000
Nov 22, 2023
7
WELLS, CECELIA A.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualMEQUON, WI
$5,000
Jun 30, 2023
8
WELLS, CECELIA
IndividualMEQUON, WI
$5,000
Jun 30, 2023
9
AYLWARD, RICHARD J. MR.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualNEENAH, WI
$4,000
Mar 15, 2024
10
KRESS, DONALD F.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualGREEN BAY, WI
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023

Rep. Onder, Robert [R-MO-3]

ID: O000177

Top Contributors

10

1
O'BRIEN, FRANK
O'BRIEN INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS • OWNER
IndividualSAINT LOUIS, MO
$13,200
Mar 31, 2024
2
ONDER, JAMES G
ONDERLAW, LLC • ATTORNEY
IndividualSAINT LOUIS, MO
$13,200
Mar 26, 2024
3
BURNS, ROBERT
PATRIOT MACHINE • VICE PRESIDENT
IndividualCHESTERFIELD, MO
$13,200
Sep 5, 2024
4
POGUE, RICHARD W.
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualWRIGHT CITY, MO
$13,200
Jun 20, 2024
5
SCHULTE, STEVE
HENGES INTERIORS • OWNER
IndividualWELDON SPRING, MO
$13,200
May 8, 2024
6
MUELLER, DOUGLAS
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualO FALLON, MO
$10,000
Mar 6, 2024
7
OBRIEN, JOHN
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualLAKE ST LOUIS, MO
$10,000
Mar 11, 2024
8
SMITH, MENLO
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualCHESTERFIELD, MO
$7,500
Mar 21, 2024
9
STOFFA, ROBERT
WINDBER HOSPITAL • PHYSICIAN
IndividualLIGONIER, PA
$6,870
Mar 28, 2024
10
KOVAC, AMY
BAIN CO • BUSINESS CONSULTANT
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$6,818
Mar 30, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 54 nodes and 41 connections (50 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $169,814

Top Donors - Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]

Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount

3 Orgs18 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 harmed.

  • The bill amends the Higher Education Act to impose disclosure requirements, prohibitions on contracts with foreign entities of concern, and enforcement mechanisms on institutions of higher education, including private institutions. For-profit education institutions (e.g., University of Phoenix, Grand Canyon Education) are private institutions that receive federal funds (Title IV) and are subject to the bill's requirements, including reporting, waivers, fines, and potential loss of program partic

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Education

Strong
Vector: 65%
Pages: 389-391AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The DETERRENT Act aligns closely with Project 2025's goal of strengthening foreign source reporting requirements under Section 117 of the HEA and tying compliance to federal financial assistance eligibility, as it enhances disclosure mandates and enforcement mechanisms for foreign gifts and contracts in higher education."

Key themes:foreign source reportingSection 117 compliancefederal funding tiestransparency in higher educationnational security oversight

— 356 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise l Investigate postsecondary institutions that fail to honor their Section 117 obligations and make appropriate referrals to DOJ. l Work with Congress to amend the HEA to tie the HEA’s foreign source reporting requirements to an institution's ability to receive federal financial assistance, particularly participation in programs funded under Titles IV and VI of the HEA. Allowing Competency-Based Education to Flourish Competency-based education is a promising approach that could provide a high-quality and affordable education to many students. Since the credit hour, which measures the time in the classroom, is inappropriate for such programs, the direct assessment method was introduced to allow competen- cy-based programs to participate in the federal financial aid programs. However, overregulation has hampered the usage of direct assessment, with the lead- ing competency-based university choosing to instead convert their courses into credit hours for compliance purposes. One of the leading obstacles is the requirement that courses include “regular and substantive” interaction between faculty and students. l New regulations should clarify the definition and requirements of regular and substantive interaction for competency-based education, as well as for online programs. Reforming “Area Studies” Funding l Congress should wind down so-called “area studies” programs at universities (Title VI of the HEA), which, although intended to serve American interests, sometimes fund programs that run counter to those interests. l In the meantime, the next Administration should promulgate a new regulation to require the Secretary of Education to allocate at least 40 percent of funding to international business programs that teach about free markets and economics and require institutions, faculty, and fellowship recipients to certify that they intend to further the stated statutory goals of serving American interests. — 357 — Department of Education NEW EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD ISSUE Guidance Documents l The President should immediately reinstate and reissue Executive Order 13891: Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents, 84 Fed. Reg. 55235 (Oct. 9, 2019), and Executive Order 13892: Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication (Oct. 15, 2019). These executive orders required all federal agencies to treat guidance documents as non-binding in law and practice and also forbade federal agencies from imposing new standards of conduct on persons outside the executive branch through guid- ance documents. They required all federal agencies to apply regulations and statutes instead of guidance documents in any enforcement action. President Biden revoked these executive orders on January 20, 2021, demonstrating that these executive orders effectively restrained the abuses of an expansive administrative state. l Require APA notice and comment. The President should issue an executive order requiring the Office for Civil Rights’ Case Processing Manual to go through APA (Administrative Procedures Act) notice and comment. l Protect the First Amendment. The President should issue an executive order requiring grant applications (SF-424 series) to contain assurances that the applicant will uphold the First Amendment in funded programs and work. l Minimize bachelor’s degree requirements. The President should issue an executive order stating that a college degree shall not be required for any federal job unless the requirements of the job specifically demand it. l Eliminate the “list of shame.” Educational institutions can claim a religious exemption with the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education from the strictures of Title IX. In 2016, the Obama Administration published on the Department of Education’s website a list of colleges that had applied for the exemption. This “list of shame” of faith-based colleges, as it came to be known, has since been archived on ED’s website, still publicly available. The President should issue an executive order removing the archived list and preventing such a list from being published in the future.

Department of Education

Strong
Vector: 63%
Pages: 386-388AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The DETERRENT Act directly supports Project 2025's goal of confronting foreign influence in higher education by strengthening enforcement of Section 117 of the HEA, which Project 2025 criticizes the Biden Administration for neglecting. Both emphasize transparency and accountability regarding foreign gifts and contracts to mitigate security risks and ideological influence."

Key themes:foreign influence in higher educationSection 117 enforcementtransparency and accountabilitynational security concernsgift and contract disclosure

— 354 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise If privatizing student lending is not feasible, then the next Administration should consider the following reforms: l Switch to fair-value accounting from FCRA accounting. l Consolidate all federal loan programs into one new program that a) utilizes income-driven repayment, b) includes no interest rate subsidies or loan forgiveness, c) includes annual and aggregate limits on borrowing, and d) includes skin in the game to hold colleges accountable. l Eliminate Grad PLUS loans (for graduate students) and Parent PLUS loans (for parents of undergraduates). Graduate students are already eligible for unsubsidized Stafford student loans; Grad PLUS loans are redundant. They also lack some of the safeguards of Stafford loans, such as annual and aggregate borrowing limits. Parent PLUS loans are also redundant because there are many privately provided alternatives available. l The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which prioritizes government and public sector work over private sector employment, should be terminated. Whatever Congress chooses to do with future loans, there is still the question of the government’s responsible stewardship of the existing student loan portfolio—a substantial taxpayer asset. The current Administration has recklessly engaged in the policy fetish of forgiving and canceling student loans with abandon. l The next Administration should work with Congress to amend the HEA to ensure that no Administration engages in this kind of abuse in the future. l Specifically, the new Administration should urge the Congress to amend the HEA to abrogate, or substantially reduce, the power of the Secretary to cancel, compromise, discharge, or forgive the principal balances of Title IV student loans, as well as to modify in any material way the repayment amounts or terms of Title IV student loans. l Further, the next Administration should propose that Congress amend the HEA to remove the department’s authority to forgive loans based on borrower defense to repayment; instead, the department — 355 — Department of Education should be authorized to discharge loans only in instances where clear and convincing evidence exists to demonstrate that an educational institution engaged in fraud toward a borrower in connection with his or her enrollment in the institution and the student’s educational program or activity at the institution. Cap indirect costs at universities. Currently, the federal government pays a por- tion of the overhead expenses associated with university-based research. Known as “indirect costs,” these reimbursements cross-subsidize leftist agendas and the research of billion-dollar organizations such as Google and the Ford Foundation. Universities also use this influx of cash to pay for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. To correct course, l Congress should cap the indirect cost rate paid to universities so that it does not exceed the lowest rate a university accepts from a private organization to fund research efforts. This market- based reform would help reduce federal taxpayer subsidization of leftist agendas. NEW REGULATIONS Attacking the Accreditation Cartel For a college to participate in federal financial aid programs, it must be accred- ited, but accreditors have been abusing their quasi-regulatory power to impose non-educational requirements and ideological preferences on colleges. l The Secretary of Education should refuse to recognize all accreditors that abuse their power. l New accreditors should also be encouraged to start up. Confronting the Chinese Communist Party’s Influence on Higher Education According to media reports, more than 100 universities in the U.S. received nearly $100 billion in gifts and grants from China-based sources between 2013 and 2020. Much of this money derives from the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies. The next Administration must l Reverse the Biden Administration’s refusal to enforce Section 117 of the HEA, which directs colleges and universities to report gifts from, and contracts with, sources outside the U.S. worth $250,000 or more.

Department of Education

Weak
Vector: 65%
Pages: 389-391AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The DETERRENT Act focuses on transparency in foreign gifts and contracts in higher education, which shares a general theme of transparency with Project 2025's education section, but does not directly address any of the specific policies outlined, such as guidance document reform, First Amendment protections in grants, or reducing bachelor's degree requirements for federal jobs."

Key themes:transparencyaccountabilityhigher education oversight

— 357 — Department of Education NEW EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD ISSUE Guidance Documents l The President should immediately reinstate and reissue Executive Order 13891: Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents, 84 Fed. Reg. 55235 (Oct. 9, 2019), and Executive Order 13892: Promoting the Rule of Law Through Transparency and Fairness in Civil Administrative Enforcement and Adjudication (Oct. 15, 2019). These executive orders required all federal agencies to treat guidance documents as non-binding in law and practice and also forbade federal agencies from imposing new standards of conduct on persons outside the executive branch through guid- ance documents. They required all federal agencies to apply regulations and statutes instead of guidance documents in any enforcement action. President Biden revoked these executive orders on January 20, 2021, demonstrating that these executive orders effectively restrained the abuses of an expansive administrative state. l Require APA notice and comment. The President should issue an executive order requiring the Office for Civil Rights’ Case Processing Manual to go through APA (Administrative Procedures Act) notice and comment. l Protect the First Amendment. The President should issue an executive order requiring grant applications (SF-424 series) to contain assurances that the applicant will uphold the First Amendment in funded programs and work. l Minimize bachelor’s degree requirements. The President should issue an executive order stating that a college degree shall not be required for any federal job unless the requirements of the job specifically demand it. l Eliminate the “list of shame.” Educational institutions can claim a religious exemption with the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education from the strictures of Title IX. In 2016, the Obama Administration published on the Department of Education’s website a list of colleges that had applied for the exemption. This “list of shame” of faith-based colleges, as it came to be known, has since been archived on ED’s website, still publicly available. The President should issue an executive order removing the archived list and preventing such a list from being published in the future. — 358 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise NEW AGENCY POLICIES THAT DON’T REQUIRE NEW LEGISLATION OR REGULATIONS TO ENACT Transparency of FERPA and PPRA Complaints l The Department of Education should be transparent about complaints filed on behalf of families regarding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). l At the same time, the Department of Education should develop a portal and resources for parents on their rights under FERPA and PPRA. This portal should also contain an explanation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) and public school procedures to demonstrate that the law does not deprive parents of their right to access any school health records. The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program In 2011, Congress added new requirements to the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program stating that participating private schools must submit to site visits by the program administrator, inform prospective students about the school’s accreditation status, mandate that teachers of core subjects have bachelor’s degrees, and require participating students to take some form of nationally norm-referenced test. Notably, the 2011 reauthorization also required, for the first time, that participating private schools be accredited or be on a path to accreditation. The 2017 reauthorization went further, requiring that each participating school supply a certificate of accreditation to the administering entity upon program entry, demonstrating that the school is fully accredited before being allowed to participate. The list of approved accreditors is entirely too small to serve the mission of the diverse schools in the nation’s capital. l Although the accreditation regulations should be removed entirely by Congress, in the meantime, the next President should issue an executive order expanding the list of allowable accreditors. Transparency Around Program Performance and DEI Influence The next President should issue a series of executive orders requiring: l An accounting of how federal programs/grants spread DEI/CRT/ gender ideology, l A review of outcomes for GEAR UP and the 21st Century grants programs,

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About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

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