US Defense Department orders security review of foreign partners at 30 universities

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The US Department of Defense has asked 30 academic institutions to conduct security reviews of their partnerships with foreign entities, the department said Monday. The request is aimed at protecting research investments from "foreign exploitation," according to a department statement, which added that academic partnerships deemed to endanger national security will not be tolerated. The Defense Department also ordered one of the institutions to audit its ties with foreign partners. In July, the department updated its list of foreign academic and research organizations barred from accessing military research and development funding, adding 130 institutions from China, Russia and Iran, including universities and research centers. According to the department, the listed entities are considered to carry a heightened risk of activities that could lead to the misuse of state-funded research. The move is part of broader US efforts to shield military research from foreign influence, a Defense Department spokesperson said. No further details on the specific institutions under review were immediately available.