WASHINGTON – This morning, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) took corrective action to address the Biden administration's lack of transparency and abuse of foreign gift disclosure guidelines.

The "Gift Accountability, Reporting, and Disclosures Act" is the 11^th piece of legislation introduced by Congressman Donalds during the 119^th Congress, is co-led by Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME), and has received the support of Public Citizen; Government Information Watch; Concerned Veterans of America; Foundation for Government Accountability Action; and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Currently, foreign gifts are regulated by 5 U.S.C. §7342, the "Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act." This law  prohibits U.S. Government employees from soliciting foreign gifts and discourages the acceptance of unsolicited foreign gifts except where refusal might embarrass the donor or adversely affect U.S. foreign relations. For over 50 years, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE), and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform have each identified inconsistent compliance, collection, and reporting of foreign gifts by federal government employees.

Specifically, the "GARD Act" utilizes the existing structure of OGE forms 278e and 450 Part 9 to finally resolve these reporting inconsistencies and prevent the appearance of undue foreign influence by promoting gift transparency and government accountability.

Gift Reporting Procedure Under 5U.S.C.§7342:

1. Federal employee receives foreign gift on behalf of the United States
2. Within 60 days, the employee submits gift to employing agency
3. Employee reports: (A) Donor, (B) Date, (C) Value, (D) Brief Description, (E) Disposition if known
4. Employing agency reviews and submits employee gift lists to the Department of State Chief of Protocol
5. Department of State reviews and publishes to the Federal Register with no deadline and at will

Changes in Gift Reporting Procedure Under the "GARD Act":

1. Federal employee receives foreign gift on behalf of the United States
2. Within 60 days, the employee submits gift to employing agency
3. Employee reports: (A) Donor, (B) Date, (C) Value, (D) Description, (E) Specific Disposition on OGE Form 278e / 450 Part 9
4. Employing agency reviews and submits OGE Form 278e / 450 Part 9 to the OGE and sends a copy to the Secretary of State
5. Department of State reviews and publishes to the Federal Register within 30 days of May 15^th of the filing year

Exclusive:

Byron Donalds Leads Bipartisan Effort To Punish Federal Workers For Failure To Report Foreign Gifts
Elizabeth Elkind – Fox News Digital
March 24, 2025

More:

• Read Text of the "GARD Act" HERE.
• See 5 U.S.C. §7342 v. "GARD Act" Comparison HERE.