Universities in the United States have received nearly $405 million from entities deemed a threat to national security.
The Education Department has made this information publicly available through its updated Section 117 Dashboard, which provides detailed information on foreign funding sources.
These institutions, including top research universities, may face restrictions on federal grant funding if they continue to have relationships with these entities, according to a letter from the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy.
The letter urges universities to exercise heightened diligence in their dealings with entities that pose a national security risk.
The Aero Engine Corporation of China, a company with ties to the Chinese military, has made payments to several universities, including Northwestern University, UC Irvine, and the University of Connecticut.
The exact use of these funds is not disclosed in Department of Education records.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in April 2025 directing the Department of Education to collect more information on foreign funding sources.
Additionally, the company is considered a "military end-user entity" by the Department of Commerce, developing engines for fighter jets and attack helicopters used by China's People's Liberation Army.
UC Berkeley, a leading research institution, has also received funds from Chinese entities on federal watchlists, including a $7.6 million grant from Sun Yat-sen University.
Sun Yat-sen University is listed on the Pentagon's "1286 List," which enumerates research institutions believed to be engaged in problematic activities.
UC Berkeley has stated that it complies with all applicable regulations regarding foreign funding sources.
Bryant University had a $22.6 million contract with the Beijing Institute of Technology to maintain a jointly operated academic program in China, but terminated the contract after the Beijing Institute of Technology was added to a federal watchlist.
The reporting reflects payments associated with a now-terminated accounting program established in 2014 with the Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai, which was fully acquired by the Beijing Institute of Technology.
