GATE Act of 2026

This bill establishes a prohibition on U.S. National Laboratories from admitting certain foreign nationals, aiming to safeguard American technology from exploitation. It specifically bars individuals from designated countries, referred to as covered foreign nationals , from accessing laboratory premises, information, or technology as either short-term visitors or long-term assignees (periods longer than 30 consecutive days). The designated countries include the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Cuba, but the prohibition does not apply to U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted permanent residents. A waiver process is included, allowing the Secretary of Energy to grant exceptions if, after consulting with Department of Energy intelligence and senior Federal Bureau of Investigation counterintelligence officials, the Secretary certifies that the benefits to the United States outweigh the national security and economic risks. Any such waiver must be provided in writing to the National Laboratory, permitting the admission of an otherwise prohibited individual. To ensure oversight, the Secretary of Energy is mandated to notify specific congressional committees within 30 days of issuing any waiver, detailing the foreign national's country of origin, request date, decision date, and the specific reasons for granting the waiver.