U.S. Defense Department adds 130 foreign universities to research‑security blacklist

The U.S. Department of Defense released an updated Section 1286 list under the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, designating 130 academic and research institutions in China, Russia and Iran as posing a risk to U.S. national security and scientific integrity. The list includes 33 Russian universities such as Moscow State University‑Lomonosov and Bauman Moscow State Technical University, and 88 Chinese institutions, among them Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao‑Tong University and several others newly added.

The Pentagon warned U.S. researchers, universities and industry partners to exercise heightened caution when collaborating, funding or sharing data with any listed entity, noting that such interactions could jeopardize compliance with federal research funding rules. The update aims to prevent misuse of U.S. federally funded research by foreign governments and to safeguard the integrity of American scientific work.