War Department orders security audits of research at 30 academic institutions

The Department of War has notified 30 domestic academic institutions to begin immediate, comprehensive reviews of their academic, financial, and research ties with foreign entities of concern.

The directives cover active institutional collaborations with organizations identified under Section 1286 of the FY19 NDAA, as well as groups linked to rebranded Confucius Institutes. Executed by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, the action is intended to safeguard taxpayer-funded research from unauthorized technology transfer, intellectual property theft, and adversarial exploitation.

“The Department of War has zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security,” said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. “Institutions that receive funding from American taxpayers must uphold the highest standards of research security, and these mandated audits will ensure accountability across the board.”

To remain eligible for future federal research funding, the institutions must complete a comprehensive audit of identified foreign collaborations, assess exposure of sensitive or export-controlled research, and enact mitigation plans that can include terminating problematic partnerships. Findings and actions must be reported to the Department by August 31, 2026.

“Universities are critical partners in executing a wide range of Department of War research programs, and the Department must therefore ensure that our research investments are well protected from foreign exploitation,” said Dr. Joseph Jewell, Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology.

Officials said the audits are designed to help anticipate emerging threats, adapt to evolving adversarial tactics, and maintain America’s leadership in innovation. The effort is being pursued in coordination with congressional partners, including the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, to strengthen a research ecosystem that protects critical discoveries from exploitation.