Brandeis Center Presses Education Department to End Repeated Delays on Foreign-Funding Disclosure

The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law has called on Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to release the Section 117 reports that list foreign governments, state-controlled entities and other intermediaries providing gifts and contracts of $250,000 or more to U.S. colleges and universities. After the Department announced a July 15 release, it postponed the report on July 14, July 24, August 10, and August 26, moving the target date each time. The most recent postponement sets a new release for September 11, 2026.

BRANDEIS CENTER TO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: RELEASE RECORDS ON FOREIGN FUNDING TO U.S. UNIVERSITIES AFTER FOURTH DELAY; FILES FOIA REQUEST

Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 requires institutions to publicly disclose large foreign gifts and contracts. The Brandeis Center has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the compiled report and for historical records dating back to the law’s enactment in 1986.

Jewish News Syndicate

• The Center’s chairman, **Hon. Kenneth L. “While we commend Secretary McMahon for her prior work to increase transparency, the American people have a right to know more,” — Hon. Kenneth L. Marcus, chairman and CEO of the Brandeis Center and former U.

The Jerusalem Post

• “It’s important to stress that the American public has a right to know who is funding our universities, particularly when that funding may influence academic programs, what is taught and who is teaching it,” — Paikin Barall, chief policy officer of the center.

Jewish News Syndicate

• The Department has not provided a public legal justification for the continued withholding of the records, a point the Center highlighted in its letter to the agency.

Jewish News Syndicate

• Initial planned release: July 15 (scheduled).

Jewish News Syndicate

• Subsequent postponements: July 29, August 12, August 26 (all scheduled).

BRANDEIS CENTER TO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: RELEASE RECORDS ON FOREIGN FUNDING TO U.S. UNIVERSITIES AFTER FOURTH DELAY; FILES FOIA REQUEST

• Latest scheduled release: September 11, 2026 (scheduled).

Jewish News Syndicate

• FOIA request filed: seeks the Department’s compiled report containing names of foreign sources from prior reporting cycles.

Jewish News Syndicate

The Education Department has indicated that the foreign-funding list will be made public on September 11, 2026. The Brandeis Center urges the agency to meet that deadline without further delay, arguing that timely disclosure is essential for congressional oversight and for safeguarding academic independence.

BRANDEIS CENTER TO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: RELEASE RECORDS ON FOREIGN FUNDING TO U.S. UNIVERSITIES AFTER FOURTH DELAY; FILES FOIA REQUEST