The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) has joined a coalition of 27 organizations calling on congressional leaders to include the DETERRENT Act in the conference report for H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027, according to a press release dated October 8, 2026.

A letter to the leaders of the Armed Services Committees

A coalition letter has also been sent to key congressional leaders, urging them to support the effort. They include Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker and Ranking Member Jack Reed, and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers and Ranking Member Adam Smith.

The letter urges Congress to advance the DETERRENT Act as an important national security and transparency measure aimed at strengthening disclosure requirements surrounding foreign funding of American colleges and universities.

What the bill would do

The legislation would increase transparency around foreign investments in U.S. higher education, particularly financial relationships involving countries and entities of national security concern. It would lower reporting thresholds for foreign gifts and add requirements for universities accepting gifts from countries of concern.

The letter argues that stronger reporting requirements would give the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, Congress and the intelligence community additional information to assess potential foreign influence efforts targeting U.S. educational institutions.

“This should not be a partisan issue. Americans deserve to know when foreign governments or entities are investing significant resources in institutions that educate our young people and participate in sensitive research.”Anila Ali, President, AMMWEC

“Transparency about foreign funding is essential”

“American universities play an enormously important role in our democracy, our national security, and the education of future generations,” said Anila Ali, President of AMMWEC. “Transparency about foreign funding is essential to protecting the integrity and independence of our institutions.”

Ali added: “Foreign influence and foreign funding must be transparent, particularly when national security, academic independence, intellectual property, and sensitive research are involved.”

Where the bill stands

According to the coalition letter, the DETERRENT Act previously passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 241–169 and has bipartisan cosponsors in Congress. Supporters are now urging congressional negotiators to incorporate its provisions into the final FY2027 NDAA.