EXCLUSIVE: Republicans Investigate Foreign Influence Ties To American Universities

A group of congressional Republicans are investigating foreign entities aligned with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) allegedly attempting to influence and infiltrate American universities, the Daily Caller exclusively learned.

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy and some GOP colleagues are looking into nine universities over alleged foreign ties to the CCP, according to a series of letters obtained exclusively by the Caller. Cassidy is joined by Republican Indiana Sen. Jim Banks and Republican Michigan Reps. Tim Walberg and John Moolenaar.

“As you know, American universities conduct highly sensitive, critical research with direct military applications,” the lawmakers wrote in a joint statement. “Therefore, it is very alarming that countries of concern could be gaining access to research with national security implications at your institution by way of gifts and donations.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: OJ’s Top Defense Expert Trained Thousands Of Chinese State Security Agents)

“To ensure the safety of the American people and uphold U.S. national security interests, sensitive research and technology must stay out of the hands of our adversaries.”

A new report from the Department of Education found that 34 institutions have been the recipients of hundreds of millions of dollars from foreign entities with links to American adversaries.

For instance, the University of California, Berkeley received $224.5 million in funding from China, according to the funding portal. Massachusetts Institute of Technology has also received $368.6 million from China, the University of California Irvine has received $27.5 million, and the University of Arizona received $64.5 million, according to the portal.

CCP-aligned organizations are known to infiltrate American universities to steal sensitive military research and intellectual property under the guise of international partnership. In one instance reported exclusively by the Daily Caller News Foundation, CCP members enrolled in American universities established party branches on campuses with the support of their Chinese alma maters.

During a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing in March, Walberg detailed several incidents of potential alleged CCP spying on American campuses.

“Last summer there were multiple disturbing instances of potential foreign espionage on U.S. campuses,” Walberg said. “At the University of Michigan students, employees, and faculty have been charged and sentenced for conspiracy and smuggling-related crimes. At Stanford, students were approached by foreign nationals posing as peers in an effort to get students to travel to China and share research.”

The Republican lawmakers sent letters to nine universities Thursday asking for information regarding the various alleged transactions made with “counterparties of concern,” including organizations with ties to adversaries. These universities include Bryant University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Arizona, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Portland State University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and University of California Irvine.

The Daily Caller reached out to the universities for comment.