To prohibit National Laboratories from admitting certain foreign nationals, and for other purposes.

The Guarding American Technology from Exploitation Act of 2026 (or GATE Act of 2026) bans U.S. National Laboratories from allowing certain foreign nationals to visit, work at, or access laboratory premises, information, or technology. It also creates a specific waiver process that allows the Secretary of Energy to make exceptions under strict security conditions.

* **Covered foreign nationals:** Citizens or nationals of the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), or the Republic of Cuba who seek or currently have access to National Laboratories. * **National Laboratories:** Facilities that must enforce the access ban. * **Federal officials and agencies:** The Secretary of Energy, the Director of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) counterintelligence officials, and six specific Congressional committees overseeing intelligence, energy, commerce, science, space, and technology.

* **Access Prohibition:** Starting immediately upon the bill's enactment, National Laboratories are strictly prohibited from admitting covered foreign nationals as either: * **Visitors:** Individuals granted access for 30 consecutive days or fewer. * **Assignees:** Individuals granted access for more than 30 consecutive days. * **Retroactive Revocation:** Laboratories must block access for covered foreign nationals even if those individuals requested or were approved for access prior to the bill becoming law. * **Waiver Process:** The Secretary of Energy is permitted to grant a written waiver to allow access for a specific foreign national. Before issuing a waiver, the Secretary is required to: 1. Consult with the Director of the DOE Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. 2. Consult with a senior FBI counterintelligence official (such as the Director, Deputy Director, Executive Assistant Director of the National Security Branch, or Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division). 3. Formally certify that the benefits to the United States outweigh national security and economic risks. * **Congressional Reporting:** If a waiver is granted, the Secretary of Energy must submit a report within 30 days to six designated committees in the Senate and House of Representatives. The report must detail the individual's country of origin, the date access was requested, the date the waiver was decided, and the specific reasons for granting it.

The summary does not state or detail any specific spending, funding allocations, taxes, or fees associated with this bill.

* **U.S. Citizens and Green Card Holders:** The prohibition does **not** apply to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders), regardless of their original national origin. * **Waiver Exception:** The ban can be bypassed for a specific individual if the Secretary of Energy completes the mandatory consultations, risk-benefit certification, and reporting requirements.

This bill bars citizens of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba from visiting, working at, or accessing technology at U.S. National Laboratories—including revoking past approvals—unless the Secretary of Energy consults with intelligence officials and certifies that granting a waiver is in the U.S. national interest.