Byron Donalds Leads Bipartisan Effort to Hold Federal Workers Accountable for Foreign Gift Reporting

FIRST ON FOX: In an unusual display of bipartisan synergy, Reps. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Jared Golden, D-Maine, are joining forces to crack down on the reporting of foreign gifts to federal employees. The two lawmakers introduced the Gift, Accountability, Reporting, and Disclosures (GARD) Act, a proposed legislation aimed at tightening the screws on how representatives of the federal government disclose perks from foreign entities.

The bill seeks to expand the definition of what qualifies as a "foreign" gift and lay down stricter rules for disclosures. Federal employees dragging their feet—filing reports more than 30 days after receiving foreign gifts—would face a $200 fine. Talk about accountability with a price tag.

Currently, federal employees, including the president, vice president, members of Congress, and their families, are required to report foreign gifts valued at $480 or more, though the threshold can dip lower for specific government entities. Yet, the current system's transparency is shaky at best. The State Department’s chief of protocol, a politically appointed role, must compile this information, but the absence of a clear timeline for making it public has left room for ambiguity. The GARD Act aims to fix this by mandating the publication of foreign gift lists within 30 days of receiving the data.

Another significant shift proposed in the bill is transferring the responsibility of gathering foreign gift information from the State Department to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. This change is seen as an effort to depoliticize the process. Additionally, the expanded definition of "foreign" would include gifts from non-U.S. businesses and nonprofits, and extend reporting requirements to adult children and relatives of officials at the same $480 baseline.

Both parties have accused leaders of exploiting foreign business connections for personal gain, making this issue a rare point of agreement in today’s divided political landscape. Golden and Donalds' collaboration is especially striking, given their differing political leanings.

While Donalds has announced his run for governor of Florida and earned an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, Golden—a moderate Democrat representing a district Trump carried in the last two presidential elections—is considered a potential contender for Maine’s gubernatorial race. This legislation could serve as a strategic move for both lawmakers as they eye future campaigns.

It’s unclear whether the bill has gained traction with House GOP leadership, but the timing is worth noting. Amid heightened discussions about foreign influence and political integrity, the GARD Act could signal a broader push for accountability in Washington.