Pentagon Orders Audit of Universities' Foreign Partnerships

Scope of the audit

The audit request comes against the backdrop of a broader push by the administration of President Donald Trump to scrutinize foreign influence on American campuses. Federal agencies have in recent years expanded export-control rules, visa vetting for Chinese researchers, and disclosure requirements for gifts and contracts from foreign governments.

Higher education groups said the move could create significant administrative burdens for universities. 'Universities are already navigating a complex web of compliance requirements when it comes to foreign collaboration,' said Sarah Spreitzer, a policy analyst with the American Council on Education, in comments reported by AP. 'An audit of this scale will require substantial staff time and legal review.'

Harvard University, which has been at the center of several disputes with the Trump administration over federal funding and international enrollment, is among the institutions expected to review its partnerships. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment, AP reported.

Reaction from universities

Defense officials say the review is intended to ensure that U.S. research is not inadvertently bolstering the military capabilities of strategic competitors. The Pentagon has not publicly identified which collaborations it considers most concerning, but the inclusion of institutions linked to China's military and scientific apparatus suggests that biotechnology and emerging-technology research are particular areas of focus.

Some university leaders have welcomed the clarity of having a specific list, saying it will help compliance officers prioritize their reviews. Others have warned that the audit could chill legitimate scientific exchange, especially in fields where international collaboration is essential to progress.

Collin Binkley of The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Broader research-security push

The audit is one of several recent federal actions targeting research security. Earlier this year, the Commerce Department tightened export controls on certain advanced semiconductors and quantum computing equipment, and the Justice Department has prosecuted individual researchers accused of failing to disclose ties to foreign governments.

Universities now have weeks to complete the initial phase of the review, according to guidance shared with institutions. The Pentagon is expected to publish aggregated findings, though individual institutions may not be publicly identified unless violations are found.

The order is likely to fuel an already heated debate over the balance between open scientific collaboration and national security. Lawmakers in both parties have called for stronger guardrails, but academic groups argue that overly broad restrictions could undermine the United States' leadership in science and technology.