The U.S. Department of Education launched a public dashboard tracking Section 117 disclosures of foreign gifts and contracts reported by colleges and universities, but experts warn the tool may be used politically due to missing context. The dashboard shows cumulative figures, with the department stating that as of May, 559 colleges and universities received more than $72 billion in gifts and contracts from 194 countries. Higher education leaders and government relations experts say the portal lacks clear time windows, sorting by year, and purpose for the funding—context that would help users understand whether disclosures reflect routine research collaborations, endowments, or other institutional relationships. The concern is that the dashboard’s presentation could imply wrongdoing without evidence. The administration has called Section 117 compliance a transparency priority. For institutions, the immediate impact is greater scrutiny of disclosures and a heightened need for communications strategy and internal documentation practices around foreign funding reporting.