Chairmen Moolenaar, Cassidy, Walberg, and Banks Sound Alarm on Chinese Communist Party Infiltrating American Universities, Threatening National Security

Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China, Chairman Bill Cassidy of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Chairman Tim Walberg of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Senator Jim Banks raised serious concerns following a new U.S. Department of Education (DeptEd) report showing attempts by foreign entities aligned with the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) and other adversaries to influence American universities.  

In letters to Bryant University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Arizona, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California – Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Portland State University, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and University of California – Irvine the lawmakers ask for information on how the schools handle foreign financial gifts and research collaborations with countries of concern.

“As you know, American universities conduct highly sensitive, critical research with direct military applications,” wrote the lawmakers. “Therefore, it is very alarming that countries of concern could be gaining access to research with national security implications at your institution by way of gifts and donations.” 

“To ensure the safety of the American people and uphold U.S. national security interests, sensitive research and technology must stay out of the hands of our adversaries,” continued the lawmakers. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s new foreign funding portal, 34 institutions have received over $183 million from foreign entities with ties to American adversaries, including the CCP. A previous Select Committee report outlined how Chinese-linked partnerships have exposed American universities to theft of sensitive military research and intellectual property. In another Select Committee report, the Chinese Academy of Engineering credited a collaboration between a U.S. professor and a Chinese institution with “leading China to develop new materials and technologies for cutting-edge defense weapons and equipment.”