Rep. Troy E. Nehls Introduces the PROTECT Act of 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) introduced the Preventing Research Ownership Transfer to External Competitive Threats (PROTECT) Act of 2026, which would prohibit U.S. universities from selling the intellectual property (IP) rights of research conducted by the university, their staff, or students to the government of a hostile nation, like China, Russia, or Iran.
Currently, U.S. universities receive millions annually in gifts and contracts from foreign companies and governments. Among these foreign governments is China. Reporting revealed that some universities entered into contracts with foreign governments, namely the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), to sell the intellectual property rights of their research, directly jeopardizing U.S. national security. Evidence shows that much of the research provided to these foreign governments has focused on critical energy and weapons development. Certain universities are even under investigation for allegedly receiving funding from Chinese universities and the associated smuggling of biological material.
Congressman Nehls’ PROTECT Act of 2026 would establish civil penalties for U.S. universities who sell their intellectual property rights of research conducted by their institutions, staff, or students to the government of a hostile nation, and authorizes the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), to seize any funds a university receives in exchange for covered research from a university.
“Under no circumstance should U.S. universities be selling the intellectual property rights of their research to foreign, hostile nations,” said Congressman Nehls. “Our country’s universities should be focused on advancing American students’ education rather than jeopardizing the national security of the United States and spoon-feeding our adversaries a technological edge. My legislation ensures that U.S. universities aren't compromising the security of our nation by prohibiting them from selling the IP rights of their research to nations that hate us."
The PROTECT Act of 2026 is cosponsored by Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX-26).
Read the bill text HERE.
Read the exclusive in The Daily Caller HERE.