What were the reported numbers of visits to Department of Energy laboratories by nationals of hostile governments between September 2021 and August 2024?
Between September 2021 and August 2024, during the Biden administration, there were nearly 30,000 trips to American research facilities by nationals of hostile governments, consisting of 28,028 Chinese nationals, 304 Iranians, and 1,608 Russians.
Q&A ID dde8f063-7b0e-4bf5-b7a5-2918be5ba3e0
According to a 2024 Senate Intelligence Committee disclosure, how many foreign nationals were granted access to national labs in fiscal year 2023?
A 2024 disclosure revealed that approximately 40,000 citizens of foreign countries were granted access to national labs in fiscal year 2023, which included more than 8,000 individuals from China and Russia. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa also flagged that several hundred Iranian nationals gained entry to these sites during that period.
Q&A ID a32787ff-2f06-4152-9f15-63e51a71cc94
What were the statistics regarding Chinese national access to Department of Energy facilities in fiscal year 2025?
In fiscal year 2025, Chinese nationals accessed DOE facilities a total of more than 5,000 times through physical and remote access. This included approximately 1,900 short-term visits, about 1,300 long-term research assignments onsite, and approximately 2,100 formal employees at some facilities.
Q&A ID 49e33d85-e8e9-454e-bc4a-6f2f6620c13e
How does the GATE Act change the oversight process for foreign nationals accessing national labs?
Under the proposed legislation, both the Department of Energy (DOE) and the FBI must sign off before any covered foreign national can enter a national lab. While a narrow waiver process exists, a waiver can only be granted by the Secretary of Energy after consulting with the director of the DOE's Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and only if the benefits outweigh the national security and economic risks to the U.S. Additionally, Congress must be notified within 30 days whenever a waiver is issued.
Q&A ID 983f8ffe-674d-4baf-8a45-a27288f77d05
What is the purpose of the GATE Act introduced by Republican lawmakers?
The GATE Act aims to prohibit nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba from accessing any of the 17 U.S. national laboratories run by the Department of Energy. The legislation would also revoke security clearances already granted to these covered foreign nationals. Rep. Pat Harrigan of North Carolina is leading the House effort, while Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is backing a companion bill in the Senate.
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