Pentagon Orders 30 Universities to Audit Foreign Ties to Avoid Funding Loss

The Pentagon has mandated that 30 American universities conduct audits of their financial and research ties to foreign entities to avoid losing federal research funding. The institutions must review their foreign collaborations and assess any exposure of sensitive or export-controlled research. Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, stated that the Department of War has a zero tolerance policy for academic partnerships that could compromise national security. The universities required to conduct these audits include notable institutions such as Harvard University, New York University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others. They must report their findings to the War Department by August 31. The audits are part of a broader initiative targeting foreign entities under Section 1286 of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, which identifies institutions in China, Russia, and Iran that may pose risks to U.S. research and development efforts. A report indicated that Harvard University has received significant funding from China and has collaborated extensively with Chinese institutions, raising concerns about research security.