Turning Untrusted Tutoring Origins Away from Resources Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4010
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-13: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-27T08:05:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The TUTOR Act of 2025 (H.R. 4010) aims to prevent the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) from entering into contracts with online tutoring services owned by entities from countries considered national security risks. It expands existing restrictions to protect military personnel and their families from potential foreign influence or data risks through educational services.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Contracts: The DoD Secretary is barred from contracting with online tutoring services owned or controlled by entities from a "country of concern."
- Definition of Country of Concern: This term includes China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—nations identified as potential adversaries due to security threats.
- Scope: Applies to tutoring services provided to servicemembers, their families, or DoD personnel, focusing on online platforms that could access sensitive personal or location data.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 854 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159):
- Restructure the section to designate the main prohibition as subsection (a) for clarity.
- Broadens the original restriction, which targeted only services from the People's Republic of China, to now cover any "country of concern" as newly defined.
- Adds a new subsection (b) explicitly defining "country of concern" to include four specific nations, making the prohibition more comprehensive and adaptable.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The DoD may face administrative challenges in vetting tutoring providers, potentially increasing procurement costs or limiting options for educational support programs. It could strain relations with international partners but strengthen internal security protocols.
- On Citizens: Military families relying on DoD-subsidized online tutoring might experience reduced access to certain services, possibly affecting educational opportunities for children of servicemembers stationed abroad or in remote areas.
- On International Relations: The law signals heightened U.S. caution toward China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which could escalate tensions or prompt retaliatory measures in bilateral dealings, though it primarily affects private-sector contracts rather than direct diplomacy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Military Personnel and Families: Primary beneficiaries, as the law safeguards their privacy and security in accessing tutoring.
- Department of Defense: Responsible for implementation, including compliance monitoring and alternative provider sourcing.
- Online Tutoring Companies: Foreign-owned firms from the listed countries may lose U.S. government business, impacting their revenue and operations.
- U.S. Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through potential shifts in DoD spending on approved domestic or allied tutoring services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces national security exceptions under federal procurement laws (e.g., the Federal Acquisition Regulation), allowing restrictions on foreign entities without violating trade agreements, as it targets specific security risks rather than broad discrimination.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over military affairs (Article I, Section 8) and does not infringe on free speech or due process, as it regulates government contracts, not private actions.
- Political: Reflects bipartisan concerns over foreign influence in U.S. defense ecosystems, potentially setting a precedent for similar restrictions in other sectors like education or technology; it may fuel debates on balancing security with access to global services.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Graves, Sam [R-MO-6], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-13: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-06-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Turning Untrusted Tutoring Origins Away from Resources Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-13 — PDF (2 pages)