GARD Act

The GARD Act updates rules for federal employees and candidates for federal office (including President, Vice President, and Congress) who receive foreign gifts or decorations. It requires detailed reporting of gift value, location, and final disposition (e.g., retained, transferred, or donated), with a new May 15 filing deadline instead of January 31. Agencies must impose a $200 late fee for overdue submissions (with waiver options for good cause) and make all reports publicly accessible online within 120 days of enactment. These changes aim to increase transparency around foreign gifts while expanding reporting obligations to include candidates and gifts from "countries of concern" designated by the State Department.