The U.S. Department of War today released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 updated list of foreign institutions involved in problematic activities, aiming to counter unauthorized technology transfer and protect American national security.
This list, mandated by Section 1286 of the FY19 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), identifies 130 academic and research institutions in China, Russia, and Iran.
These institutions are confirmed to engage in activities that heighten the risk of U.S. government-funded research and development efforts being misappropriated. Such actions enable adversarial government interference, directly threatening America's national security and the integrity of its scientific endeavors.
Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, emphasized the department's commitment, saying, "The Department of War is strengthening its commitment to protect taxpayer-funded research and preserving the integrity of the American scientific enterprise."
The Department strongly advises domestic researchers, academic institutions, and industry partners to exercise strict caution when considering collaboration, funding, or data-sharing with any institution on this list. This directive supports recent measures by Under Secretary Michael to establish stricter requirements for safeguarding fundamental research from malign foreign influence and intellectual property theft. The FY25 Section 1286 list is available, and the Department will continue to update it at least once a year or as appropriate based on emerging intelligence and threat assessments.