Pentagon Orders Security Audits of 30 Universities Over Chinese Research Links

The Department of War has notified thirty American universities, among them Harvard, MIT, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Cornell, Duke and NYU, to conduct comprehensive reviews of their ties to foreign entities of concern, focusing on potential exposure of export-controlled research. Schools must evaluate academic, financial and research relationships and implement corrective actions, which could include ending partnerships, by the Aug. 31 deadline to retain eligibility for federal research funding.

This directive coincides with President Donald Trump’s public pledge to admit 600,000 Chinese students over two years, even as his administration tightens visa scrutiny. Authorities cite China’s military-civil fusion strategy, which blurs lines between civilian research and the People’s Liberation Army, as a national-security threat. Past cases such as the conviction of former Harvard chemistry chair Charles Lieber and recent charges against Chinese nationals for illicit technology export illustrate the perceived risk. Universities like the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Penn State have confirmed they are complying with the Pentagon’s audit request.