The Department of War issued formal notifications on Monday to 30 domestic academic institutions, directing them to conduct immediate and comprehensive reviews of their academic, financial, and research collaborations with foreign entities of concern.
The notifications target active institutional ties with foreign entities identified under Section 1286 of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, as well as organizations associated with rebranded Confucius Institutes.
The action, carried out by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, aims to protect American taxpayer-funded research from unauthorized technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and adversarial exploitation.
Requirements and Deadline for Institutions
To remain eligible for future federal research funding, the notified universities must complete a comprehensive audit of all identified foreign collaborations. They must assess the exposure of any sensitive or export-controlled research and implement strict mitigation plans, which may include terminating problematic partnerships.
Institutions are required to report their findings and actions directly to the Department no later than August 31, 2026.
“The Department of War has zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security,” said 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.”
“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,” said Dr. Joseph Jewell, Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology.
Background on Section 1286 and Targeted Entities
Section 1286 of the FY19 NDAA directed the Department to identify and maintain a list of foreign institutions determined to have engaged in problematic behavior to obtain research and intellectual property from U.S. universities. The most recent updates to the list include approximately 130 academic and research institutions primarily in China, Russia, and Iran.
The notifications also cover organizations linked to rebranded Confucius Institutes. These were Chinese government-supported educational and cultural centers that previously operated on many U.S. campuses; many of them closed or were restructured due to concerns over foreign influence.
The Department of War is conducting the effort in coordination with congressional partners, including the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Partial List of Notified Institutions
The Department of War did not publicly name the 30 institutions in its release. However, a U.S. official provided DefenseScoop with a list that includes the following:
- Georgetown University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, San Diego
- University of Texas at Austin
- Emory University
- Harvard University
- Oklahoma State University
- Penn State University
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Minnesota
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- University of South Carolina
- University of Southern California
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Bryant University
- Cornell University
- Drake University
- Duke University
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Johns Hopkins University
- New York University
- Northeastern State University, Tahlequah (Oklahoma)
- Portland State University
- Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
- Stony Brook University
- University of Delaware
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Details on why specific institutions were selected were not disclosed. The reviews form part of ongoing efforts to counter adversarial influences in U.S. academia and safeguard Department-funded research.
Provided by Dallas Express
