US Threatens Grants for Universities Over $27.6 Million From Watchlisted Foreign Entities
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
US Threatens Grants for Universities Over $27.6 Million From Watchlisted Foreign Entities
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
$27.6 million in payments from foreign entities on federal watchlists went to dozens of US universities in the second half of 2025, prompting State and Education officials to warn that federal grant access could be restricted.
A letter sent last week urged university boards to tighten diligence on national-security risks, while the administration's updated Section 117 dashboard now identifies specific foreign counterparties rather than only countries of origin.
Chinese-linked entities featured prominently: Aero Engine Corporation of China paid $7.8 million to Northwestern, UC Irvine and UConn, and UC Berkeley received a $7.6 million grant from Sun Yat-sen University, which hosts China's National Supercomputing Center.
Bryant University said its $22.6 million China program contract was terminated after Beijing Institute of Technology was added to a Pentagon list, while UC Berkeley said it complies with disclosure rules and is reviewing the government's characterization of the data.
Education Department officials said US universities have received nearly $405 million from 'counterparties of concern,' reflecting a broader Trump administration push since an April 2025 order to tighten foreign-funding disclosure and scrutiny.