Pentagon orders 30 universities to audit foreign research ties

The Pentagon has notified 30 U.S. universities that they must conduct comprehensive audits of their academic and research collaborations with foreign entities to maintain eligibility for federal research funding. The directive aims to mitigate risks of sensitive information exposure and prevent adversarial nations from exploiting taxpayer-funded research.

The review focuses on partnerships that may pose national security threats, specifically targeting institutions tied to China, Russia, and Iran. The Pentagon previously identified 130 foreign academic and research entities of concern, 88 of which are located in mainland China. The order also addresses organizations associated with Confucius Institutes.

Universities, including Harvard, Cornell, MIT, and Johns Hopkins, have been identified among those receiving the notification. Institutions must implement mitigation plans and report their findings to the department by August 31. Emil Michael, under secretary of war for research and engineering, stated that the department has “zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security.”