Education Department opens probes into Duke and North Dakota over foreign funding disclosures
The U.S. Department of Education has started investigations into Duke University and the University of North Dakota for allegedly incomplete reporting of foreign gifts and contracts.
The Department of Education announced two separate reviews of Duke University and the University of North Dakota, accusing each of submitting incomplete financial disclosures required by Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Duke’s investigation targets Duke Kunshan University, a joint venture with Wuhan University, which the department notes is overseen by China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and has been described in a 2025 House Select Committee letter as training cyber-warfare specialists.
At UND, the focus is on foreign financial ties connected to its School of Aerospace and uncrewed aerial systems program, involving Chinese aviation companies with known military links. Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent emphasized the need for accurate reporting, while Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers highlighted late filings and mischaracterized partners. Both universities have been given 30 days to provide the required documentation, and neither has responded to inquiries.
