For years, American universities have been the recipients of substantial financial contributions from foreign governments and entities, amounting to nearly $60 billion in gifts and contracts.
Alarmingly, much of this funding has bypassed the federal reporting requirements designed to ensure transparency. This influx of foreign capital is far from benign; it wields significant influence, directing research priorities and granting hostile nations access to sensitive information.
A group of ten prestigious institutionsHarvard, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Penn, MIT, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Georgetown, and Columbiahas collectively accepted over $20 billion. Specifically, Harvard received more than $3.2 billion, Cornell nearly $2.8 billion, and Columbia over $1.1 billion.
These universities are not only leaders in shaping American politics, research, and culture but are also known for promoting left-wing ideologies, all while accepting funds from countries that stand in opposition to the United States.
According to Gateway Pundit, federal law mandates transparency regarding foreign contracts and gifts, yet enforcement of these regulations remains lax. Many universities fail to comply fully, and there appears to be little interest from Democrats in holding these institutions accountable. This lack of oversight allows adversarial nations such as China, Russia, and Qatar to invest heavily in gaining access to intellectual property and influencing American educational content, often without public awareness.
During his second term, President Trump intensified efforts to uncover hidden foreign influence within higher education. His administration bolstered federal oversight by instructing the Department of Education to target schools that neglected reporting obligations. As a result, universities are now required to disclose hundreds of millions in previously unreported foreign gifts and contracts, frequently originating from adversarial countries. The administration prioritized compliance, cautioning institutions that secrecy would no longer be tolerated.
These investigations have set a new standard, demonstrating to colleges that federal reporting requirements are enforceable and that the unchecked flow of foreign funds into elite American schools will be addressed. President Trump emphasized that adversaries like China were exploiting American innovation, with universities becoming easy targets.
When foreign entities finance programs in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and biotechnology at U.S. institutions, they gain privileged access to research that should be safeguarded for America's advantage. Similarly, when they support cultural centers and academic programs, they influence the beliefs of future American leaders about their own nation.
Republicans in Congress must prioritize halting this practice. Just as foreign nationals are prohibited from contributing to political campaigns, they should not be allowed to covertly finance American universities. President Trump has already demonstrated his capability to tackle this issue, and Republicans at all levels should rally behind him in this endeavor.
Login