Key facts
- The Pentagon has threatened to cut federal funding to 30 US universities.
- The universities must review and terminate foreign academic partnerships considered a national security risk.
- The deadline for these actions is August 31.
- The directive is largely aimed at partnerships with Chinese institutions.
- The Pentagon cited concerns over unauthorized technology transfers and intellectual-property theft.
The Pentagon has issued a directive to 30 U.S. universities, including prominent institutions like Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, and Cornell, ordering them to review and terminate foreign academic partnerships that are deemed a national security risk. The deadline for these universities to report their findings and end problematic collaborations is August 31. This move is largely directed at partnerships with Chinese institutions, with the Pentagon aiming to prevent unauthorized technology transfers, intellectual-property theft, and exploitation by foreign adversaries.
According to a U.S. official, other universities on the list include the University of California, Berkeley; the University of California, San Diego; Penn State University; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of Southern California; Duke University; and New York University. The Pentagon stated that it has "zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security."
This directive follows a previous Pentagon release of a list of 130 foreign universities and research institutions, predominantly Chinese, that allegedly engage in activities increasing the risk of U.S.-funded research and development being misappropriated. The Trump administration has consistently viewed Beijing's access to American technology and research as a national security concern.
In response, a Chinese embassy spokesperson told the Associated Press that Beijing opposes the politicization of "normal scientific, educational, and academic exchanges" and urged Washington to adopt an "open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment" for academic collaboration.