Pentagon demands audit of 30 universities, investigating Russian, Chinese, Iranian research ties

The U.S. Defense Department has formally directed 30 American academic institutions to conduct immediate audits of their academic, financial, and research collaborations with foreign entities deemed concerning. This sweeping review targets institutions in Russia, China, and Iran, including civilian universities, and is part of a broader effort to safeguard sensitive and export-controlled research.

The department has defined "foreign entities of concern" to include organizations associated with the rebranded Confucius Institutes and those listed under Section 1286 of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. The 30 universities are mandated to complete a comprehensive audit of all identified foreign collaborations, assess potential exposure of sensitive research, and implement strict mitigation plans, which may include terminating problematic partnerships. All findings must be submitted to the Defense Department by August 31.

While the Defense Department has not publicly disclosed the names of the 30 universities, a U.S. official provided a list to Fox News. The institutions reportedly include prominent universities such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Diego, University of Texas at Austin, Emory University, and Johns Hopkins University, among others. This initiative is being undertaken in conjunction with congressional partners, including the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

“

complete a comprehensive audit of all identified foreign collaborations, assess the exposure of sensitive or export-controlled research, and implement strict mitigation plans, including the termination of problematic partnerships