The Pentagon has directed 30 American universities to conduct thorough audits of their financial and research collaborations with foreign entities, warning that failure to do so could result in the loss of federal research funding. The directive targets institutions with ties to China, Russia, and Iran, citing concerns over the potential compromise of sensitive U.S. research and national security.
Institutions must examine their identified foreign collaborations to assess any exposure of "sensitive or export-controlled research." They are also required to develop plans to mitigate actions that may violate national security protocols and, if necessary, terminate such partnerships. Findings from these audits must be reported to the Department of Defense by August 31.
"The Department of War has zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security," stated Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. "Institutions that receive funding from American taxpayers must uphold the highest standards of research security, and these mandated audits will ensure accountability across the board."
Dr. Joseph Jewell, Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology, emphasized the importance of protecting research investments. "Universities are critical partners in executing a wide range of Department of War research programs, and the Department must therefore ensure that our research investments are well protected from foreign exploitation."
The audits are guided by Section 1286 of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which identifies 130 academic and research institutions in China, Russia, and Iran engaged in activities that could lead to the misappropriation of U.S. government-funded research and development efforts.
Among the universities subject to the audit are Georgetown University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Diego, University of Texas at Austin, Emory University, Harvard University, Penn State University, University of California, Los Angeles, Duke University, and New York University, among others.
Recent reports have highlighted specific concerns regarding Harvard University's research collaborations with Chinese institutions, noting over 140 co-authored publications with researchers from Chinese universities. Harvard also reportedly received more than $600 million from China under the federal Section 117 foreign-gift disclosure system, the highest amount among American universities according to a report from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Concerns over foreign influence in academia are not new. In recent years, many U.S. universities have closed their Confucius Institutes due to worries about their funding connections to Beijing. Lawmakers have also expressed alarm regarding networks accused of spreading Chinese Communist Party propaganda within the U.S.
The decline of Confucius Institutes at American colleges has been rapid, dropping from approximately 100 to fewer than five in four years, driven by federal funding limitations and increased governmental pressure.