# 119-s-418: Defending Defense Research from Chinese Communist Party Espionage Act of 2025

119-s-418, Defending Defense Research from Chinese Communist Party Espionage Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN] (R-IN); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-418
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-418
- Congress: 119
- Title: Defending Defense Research from Chinese Communist Party Espionage Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-05
- Sponsor: Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN] (R-IN)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Blocks Department of Defense (DoD)-funded universities from contracting with certain foreign governments or flagged foreign entities, and restricts researchers’ paid ties to those entities.** It would set a waiver process and public transparency rules for covered contracts. - Universities: Covered institutions would be banned from entering contracts with "covered nations" or "foreign entities of concern" starting January 1, 2027 unless the Secretary of Defense issues a waiver that typically lasts 1 year. - Researchers: Principal investigators on covered DoD research would have to agree not to accept paid work from such foreign entities for 10 years after they stop being a PI. The rule applies to projects that begin one year after enactment. - Transparency and oversight: The Department of Defense must post waiver requests and orders and create a searchable database within 90 days, and deliver annual reports beginning June 1, 2027.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (R-FL), 2025-09-11T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- 10-year post‑PI foreign employment ban: cost, high. If enacted, people who become principal investigators on covered DoD research starting one year after enactment would have to agree not to take paid work or benefits from a designated foreign entity of concern for 10 years after they stop serving as PI. The Defense Secretary must publish the list o…
- New foreign contract bans and waivers: mixed, medium. If enacted, covered colleges and universities would be barred from signing contracts with certain foreign nations or foreign entities of concern starting January 1, 2027. Schools could ask the Defense Secretary for a one-year waiver, but must apply at least 120 days before a new contract and give t…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-873: Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025
- 119-s-275: Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act of 2025
- 119-s-554: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-s-124: Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025
- 119-s-3752: SAVE America Act

## Sources
- [119-s-418 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/418)

## Related
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-873: Fighter Force Preservation and Recapitalization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-873)
- [119-s-275: Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS)…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-275)
- [119-s-554: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-554)
- [119-s-124: Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-124)
- [119-s-3752: SAVE America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3752)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-418 (as of 2026-04-21).