Is American research safe? Why US officials are zeroing in on the University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is facing a federal investigation by the US Department of Education following the arrests of two Chinese scientists linked to its research facilities.
The inquiry centers on the university's handling of foreign funding and potential risks to national security, particularly concerning collaborations with Chinese institutions.
The investigation was announced after federal authorities charged two individuals in separate incidents involving the smuggling of biological materials into the US. Both scientists were associated with the University of Michigan and were apprehended within days of each other.
Federal probe linked to national security concerns
The Department of Education cited "highly disturbing criminal charges" as the basis for the investigation. According to documents obtained by the
Associated Press
, the department expressed concern that the university's research labs remain "vulnerable to sabotage." Paul Moore, the department's chief investigative counsel, stated, as reported by the
Associated Press
, that "despite the University of Michigan's history of downplaying its vulnerabilities to malign foreign influence, recent reports reveal that UM's research laboratories remain vulnerable."
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The university is now required to submit financial records and detailed information on research collaborations with institutions outside the US. Officials accuse the university of being "incomplete, inaccurate and untimely" in its disclosures about foreign funding, according to the
Associated Press.
Criminal cases prompt action from US authorities
The first arrest involved a Chinese scientist and his girlfriend, who were working at a University of Michigan laboratory.
According to the FBI, the pair attempted to smuggle a toxic fungus into the US, but the effort was intercepted. Days later, another Chinese scientist was arrested upon arrival in the US. He is accused of shipping biological material to a lab at the university.
In response, the university announced a review of its research security protocols in June. However, the Education Department, in a formal letter, raised concerns that some officials at the university had previously downplayed potential risks associated with Chinese research partnerships.
Focus on foreign funding and transparency
US law requires all universities to report foreign gifts and contracts that total $250,000 or more. While the law had seen little enforcement for years, the Trump administration renewed efforts to investigate underreporting. The Education Department has opened similar investigations into Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California, Berkeley.
The Department's letter singled out Ann Chih Lin, director of the university's Center for Chinese Studies, for allegedly minimizing the national security threat. Officials wrote that "Lin's apparent indifference to the national security concerns of the largest single source of funding for UM's annual research expenditures — the American taxpayer — is particularly unsettling," as quoted by the
Associated Press
.
University response and broader context
University spokesperson Colleen Mastony stated the institution "will cooperate with federal investigators and takes its responsibility to comply with the law extremely seriously," as reported by the
Associated Press
. She added, "We strongly condemn any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission."
The University of Michigan ended its partnership with a university in Shanghai in January, following pressure from House Republicans. The decision aligned with broader congressional efforts urging US universities to sever ties with Chinese institutions deemed security risks.
According to the
Associated Press
, more than 270,000 Chinese international students were enrolled in US institutions during the 2023–24 academic year, accounting for approximately one-fourth of all foreign students.
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