U.S. Rep. James Comer | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. James Comer | Official U.S. House headshot
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx have launched an investigation into foreign funding at U.S. higher education institutions. This inquiry follows reports from the Department of Education that indicate substantial donations from foreign nations over several decades. The lawmakers are questioning the Biden Administration's decision to reduce investigations into such funding, which had been initiated during the Trump Administration.
In a letter addressed to Acting Secretary of the Department of Education Denise Carter, Comer and Foxx request detailed documents and information concerning the Department's investigations and compliance with statutory reporting requirements related to funds received from abroad.
"The Department of Education’s foreign funding reports show that foreign nations gave more than $57 billion to U.S. institutions since 1981," they wrote. They further criticized the Biden Administration for scaling back previous investigations and noted that many educational institutions have not disclosed foreign funds received since 2020.
According to Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, institutions benefiting from federal financial assistance must file disclosure reports bi-annually with the Secretary of Education. During Betsy DeVos’s tenure as Secretary, efforts were made to enhance transparency through probes into twelve universities regarding their foreign funding, revealing $6.5 billion in previously undisclosed contributions. The National Association of Scholars has observed a decline in Section 117 compliance under President Biden's administration compared to its predecessor.
"American academia remains a target of foreign malign influence, particularly by countries whose interests are antithetical to America and its national security," stated Comer and Foxx in their communication. They emphasized the importance of protecting American educational institutions from influences that could undermine academic freedom and national security.
The full letter sent to Acting Secretary Carter is available for public viewing.
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