A House Select Committee is pressing seven U.S. universities to sever ties with China’s state-controlled China Scholarship Council (CSC), citing national security risks and potential technology theft. Lawmakers argue that the program, which requires scholars to report back to Chinese consulates, acts as a conduit for the Chinese Communist Party to acquire sensitive research.
Letters sent July 8 targeted the University of Notre Dame, Dartmouth College, Temple University, the University of Tennessee, and three University of California campuses—Davis, Irvine, and Riverside. Notre Dame and Dartmouth confirmed they are already ending their CSC agreements. Lawmakers set a July 22 deadline for the schools to disclose all CSC-sponsored scholars from May 2020 to May 2025, including details on federally funded research they accessed.
Committee Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar warned that CSC scholarships are linked to Beijing’s “military-civil fusion” strategy, which integrates civilian research into China’s military development. This congressional push mirrors Trump-era efforts to block Chinese nationals with military ties from U.S. research programs. Republicans say such scrutiny is necessary to protect American intellectual property and safeguard critical national defense technology.
Universities defended their international programs, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration. They noted that most Chinese students and researchers are privately funded and contribute significantly to American innovation. However, House members argue that universities must prioritize national security over partnerships with foreign governments.
The CSC investigation highlights growing bipartisan concern over Chinese influence in higher education.
