Pentagon threatens funding for 30 universities over ties to China
FILE-In an aerial view, the Pentagon, headquarters for the United States Department of Defense is seen on August 13, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
The Department of Defense is ordering 30 universities in the United States to audit the partnerships with Chinese universities and military training institutions.
Pentagon officials told The Associated Press that if these educational institutions don’t complete a review and eliminate arrangements considered an issue within the next two weeks, they are at risk of losing funding.
Officials also shared with the AP that their objective is to protect taxpayer-funded research from theft and exploitation.
Department of Defense statement on universities and ties to China
What they're saying:
In a release obtained by The Associated Press, Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s chief technology officer, said, "The Department of War has zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security."
According to the AP, the release didn't name the schools, but a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to the news outlet to discuss internal matters said they include Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University.
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This new order comes after the Pentagon in July released an updated list of 130 foreign organizations it alleged was involved in "activities that increase the likelihood of U.S. government-funded research and development efforts being misappropriated."
The AP reported that the audit comes as the Trump administration continues to be concerned about China’s activities in the United States pushing back on Chinese ownership of ports and infrastructure projects.
Additionally, the Department of Justice is probing whether Harvard University is allowing Chinese donors to create scholarships that aren’t inclusive to American students.
The other side:
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy said in a statement obtained by the AP that the country opposes what it described as the politicization of "normal scientific, educational, and academic exchanges."
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press, which cites a release from the Pentagon and a spokesperson from the Chinese embassy, and comments from a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.