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US Lawmakers Demand NASA, FBI Probe into China-Linked Research Grants

Two senior Republican lawmakers have written to NASA and the FBI, expressing concerns over potential Chinese Communist Party-linked research collaborations funded by US taxpayers. They cite a congressional report alleging the CCP exploits US agencies to divert research for military and technological gain. A specific case involves a Stanford professor who conducted DOE-funded research while holding a position at a Chinese academy on a US entity list. The letters question compliance with the Wolf Amendment, which restricts NASA collaboration with China, and demand records and explanations by a February 2026 deadline.

Key Points: US Lawmakers Seek NASA, FBI Probe into China Research Ties

  • Oversight of CCP influence in US research
  • Concerns over NASA & DOE-funded projects
  • Case study on Stanford professor's Chinese ties
  • Potential Wolf Amendment violations cited
  • Deadline set for agency responses
3 min read

US lawmakers seek NASA, FBI investigation into China-linked research

Republican lawmakers urge investigation into potential Chinese Communist Party influence on US taxpayer-funded research grants at NASA and universities.

"It is well established that our university systems serve as soft targets in China’s quest to acquire US knowledge, research, and intellectual property. - Lawmakers' Letter"

Washington, Feb 20

Two senior Republican lawmakers have written to NASA and the FBI raising concerns over what they describe as potential Chinese Communist Party-linked research collaborations involving US taxpayer-funded grants, including a NASA award.

In letters dated February 12 to FBI Director Kash Patel and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley and House Select Committee on the CCP Chairman John Moolenaar said they were pursuing oversight of "the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) influence over our nation's universities and other research institutions."

"It is well established that our university systems serve as soft targets in China's quest to acquire US knowledge, research, and intellectual property, which is often funded by our taxpayers," the lawmakers wrote in the letter that was made available to the media on Thursday.

The letters refer to a December 17, 2025, investigative report by the House Select Committee on China and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which alleged that the CCP "exploits the US Department of Energy (DOE) to gain access and divert American taxpayer-funded research to fuel its military and technological rise."

One case study cited in the report involved Stanford Professor Wendy Mao. According to the lawmakers, while conducting research under a DOE-funded award, she "concurrently held a position at the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR)- an organization within the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), which has been listed on the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Entity List since 1997."

They added that "Professor Mao has at least 58 co-authored publications acknowledging DOE funding or support, including 31 publications with HPSTAR since 2013."

The letters point to a 2024 research publication that acknowledged support from NASA's Exoplanet Programme and the National Science Foundation, while crediting computational resources from a Chinese university's supercomputing centre. The publication "lists only Stanford and Chinese co-authors yet explicitly acknowledges NASA funding, which-absent an FBI-certified congressional waiver-raises questions about potential violations of the Wolf Amendment."

The Wolf Amendment, included in annual appropriations legislation, bars NASA and NASA-funded researchers from engaging in bilateral collaboration with Chinese entities without specific authorisation and certification to Congress and the FBI.

In their letter to the FBI, the lawmakers asked whether a Wolf Amendment waiver was sought for NASA Award No. 80NSSC23K0265, how many such waivers have been requested since 2015, and what internal processes the Bureau follows in assessing applications.

They also asked NASA to provide "all records for Award No. 80NSSC23K0265 including subaward records" and to detail "what internal legal guidance, memoranda, or policy interpretations govern NASA's application of the Wolf Amendment, and when were they last updated."

The lawmakers set a February 26, 2026 deadline for responses.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting read. It's a delicate balance. Cutting off all collaboration might slow down global progress, but you can't have open doors for exploitation either. Hope they find a sensible middle path.
R
Rohit P
The "Wolf Amendment" sounds strict. But if a professor is working for a Chinese military-linked institute while taking US grants, that's a clear red flag. Due diligence is a must. Our IITs and ISRO must also be careful with foreign partnerships.
S
Sarah B
As someone in academia, this creates a chilling effect. Research thrives on open exchange. Yes, protect national interests, but this political scrutiny can discourage brilliant minds from collaborating at all. The focus should be on clear, fair rules, not suspicion.
V
Vikram M
China's strategy is long-term and systematic. They are masters at acquiring tech through any means. The US waking up now is a bit late, but better than never. India needs to be doubly alert given our shared border and history.
K
Karthik V
The details are concerning – 58 publications with DOE funding while being part of a listed Chinese entity? That doesn't look like an innocent oversight. Transparency from NASA and the FBI is crucial. Hope the February 26 deadline yields proper answers.

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