Moolenaar: Trump Admin Shines Light on CCP-Linked Funding on U.S. Campuses
The U.S. Department of Education recently released new data at foreignfundinghighered.gov showing the scale and scope of foreign influence in U.S. higher education. This action builds on the Trump Administration's broader efforts to strengthen enforcement of Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which holds that institutions of higher education must publicly disclose all gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more.
"Secretary McMahon, Secretary Rubio, and the entire Trump Administration are increasing accountability in higher education by providing the American people with more insight into China’s efforts to influence academia in our country," said Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China. "For too long, CCP-linked entities have given billions of dollars to American universities to spread malign influence. Now their funding has been brought to light and there is more Congress must do to stop this and protect our nation’s campuses from the CCP.”
Background
By publishing this new information, the Department is providing a valuable resource for oversight and helping ensure that universities do not evade scrutiny for their foreign financial relationships. Congress established Section 117's reporting requirements to help identify and mitigate foreign influence, protect academic integrity, and provide transparency regarding foreign financial relationships. Despite the law's clear requirements, enforcement was largely neglected for years, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the depth and breadth of foreign money flowing into American colleges and universities.
According to the newly released Section 117 data, several universities have accepted gifts or entered into contracts with entities that have been identified by the U.S. government as national security concerns and placed on various restricted or prohibited entity lists.
Universities should not wait for Congress to act before adopting commonsense protections of their own. Institutions that are serious about research security should establish policies prohibiting gifts, contracts, and research relationships with entities that appear on U.S. government restricted party lists. Such policies would help protect taxpayer-funded research, reduce reputational risk, strengthen public trust, and ensure that American universities are not providing support, legitimacy, or scientific benefit to organizations that advance the strategic, technological, or military objectives of foreign adversaries.