Foreign funding to U.S. universities raises serious concerns

A new report warns about the large amounts of foreign money flowing into U.S. universities. This study, done by Americans for Public Trust, shows that foreign gifts and contracts total around $60 billion in recent years. A significant portion of this money, about $20 billion, went to elite schools such as Harvard and Yale. The report highlights that nearly $795 million came from nations that are considered adversaries of the United States, including China, Russia, and Venezuela. Many of these universities are prominent research institutions that work with sensitive information and intellectual property. Caitlin Sutherland, the executive director of Americans for Public Trust, emphasized the lack of transparency and oversight regarding these foreign funds. She noted that the involvement of countries with adversarial relationships may correlate with a rise in anti-American activism on campuses. The report also points out that some Ivy League schools, including Harvard and Cornell, have received substantial funding from Qatar, during a time when antisemitic incidents have increased following recent events in the Middle East. Furthermore, it mentions significant funding from China, which has poured over $175 billion into U.S. schools. Americans for Public Trust has previously reported almost $130 million specifically going to the University of Pennsylvania from China over five years. The study calls for stricter measures to limit foreign influence in American higher education. One suggested initiative is the DETERRENT ACT, aimed at preventing foreign actors from buying influence and conducting espionage in U.S. universities.