WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Education, in coordination with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI) National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) and other federal agencies, has issued new guidance warning U.S. colleges and universities about escalating foreign threats to academic research.
The bulletin, part of the Department’s Safeguarding Academia initiative, provides institutions with detailed mitigation strategies to address vulnerabilities linked to foreign talent recruitment programs, espionage by foreign intelligence services, overseas research collaborations, and cyber intrusions. It urges schools to strengthen internal security measures and promptly report suspicious activities to federal authorities.
“For decades, hostile foreign actors have exploited the open nature of America’s taxpayer-funded research universities for their benefit, stealing critical technology and research, planting spies, and poaching talent to commit espionage against the United States,” said Paul Moore, the Department of Education’s Chief Investigative Counsel. “This joint bulletin equips colleges and universities with the information to identify and combat this malign foreign infiltration.”
James Cangialosi, Acting Director of the NCSC, emphasized the importance of immediate action as the academic year begins. “U.S. colleges and universities drive critical research that fuels America’s innovation and economic growth, advances our global competitiveness, and contributes to U.S. national security. However, foreign adversaries are increasingly exploiting the open and collaborative environment of U.S. academic institutions for their own gain,” Cangialosi said. “[Last week’s] bulletin highlights this evolving security threat and provides mitigation strategies that academic institutions can implement to better protect their research, their institutions, as well as their staff and students.”
The bulletin was developed in partnership with multiple federal entities, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command (ACIC), Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), and the Navy Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
The Department of Education has also intensified its enforcement efforts around foreign funding disclosures. Since January 20, the Department has launched four investigations or issued records requests to major research universities — including Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania — citing concerns over untimely and inaccurate reporting of foreign financial contributions, as required under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act.
With the start of a new academic year, federal officials are urging universities to review the new materials and implement enhanced safeguards to defend U.S. research from exploitation by foreign adversaries.
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