H.R. 9602
Less Bureaucracy, Better International Foreign Gift Transparency Act
Sponsor: Michael Baumgartner
1 cosponsor
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Less Bureaucracy, Better International Foreign Gift Transparency Act
This bill transfers specified functions relating to disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts from the Department of Education (ED) to the Department of State.
Specifically, the bill transfers to the State Department all the functions and authorities exercised by ED before the bill's effective date related to disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts. (Institutions of higher education must disclose to ED a gift from or contract with a foreign source that is valued at $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with that foreign source. On February 23, 2026, ED announced an interagency agreement with the State Department for the State Department to provide support for managing the reporting portal, while ED must maintain its statutory responsibilities and program oversight.)
Additionally, the bill transfers to the State Department all personnel and appropriations related to the functions that are transferred under this bill.
The bill outlines the authority of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) related to the functions that are transferred under this bill, including that OMB must ensure that this bill does not create a net increase in full-time equivalent employees at the State Department or ED. Further, OMB must certify compliance with the bill to specified congressional committees.
The transfer of these functions does not affect any suits, proceedings, or applications for benefits, services, licenses, permits, certificates, or financial assistance that are pending on the date of this bill's effective date.
Text of the bill
(a) Personnel determinations. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall ensure that this Act does not result in a net increase in full-time equivalent employees at the Federal agencies impacted by this Act, based on the number of such employees at such agencies on the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Function determinations. If necessary, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall make any determination of the functions that are transferred under this Act.
(c) Incidental transfers. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, at such time or times as the Director shall provide, may make such determinations as may be necessary with regard to the functions transferred by this Act, and to make such additional incidental dispositions of personnel, assets, liabilities, grants, contracts, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, authorizations, allocations, and other funds held, used, arising from, available to, or to be made available in connection with such functions, as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The Director shall provide for further measures and dispositions as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act.
(d) Certification of compliance. On the effective date of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall certify compliance with this Act, including the requirement under subsection (a), to the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.