Harvard University has emerged as the top recipient of foreign funding among U.S. universities listed by the Department of Education, receiving nearly $4.5 billion through more than 7,000 reported transactions.
The figures have drawn renewed scrutiny from Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who is pressing the Education Department to examine whether Harvard and other universities have fully disclosed financial relationships involving China and other countries considered security concerns by the U.S. government.
Harvard Leads Universities In Foreign Funding
For years, the U.S. Department of Education has maintained a reporting system tracking foreign financial contributions and contracts involving federally funded colleges and universities.
After the Trump administration revamped the department’s online reporting portal, the updated data highlighted the scale of foreign money flowing into American higher education.
Harvard topped the list, with nearly $4.5 billion coming from foreign countries across 7,089 transactions. Of that amount, approximately $634 million originated from countries designated by the federal government as countries of concern.
The designation applies to nations that U.S. officials determine are engaged in conduct detrimental to American national security, foreign policy or the safety of U.S. citizens.
China accounts for the largest portion of Harvard’s reported funding from countries of concern. However, it is not the only nation on the list.
Venezuela has provided approximately $3.3 million to Harvard, while Russia has contributed more than $750,000, according to the Education Department’s reporting data.
Cotton Calls For Greater Scrutiny Of China Ties
The figures have caught the attention of Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who has raised concerns about potential undisclosed transactions involving Chinese entities.
“I remain concerned that millions in additional transactions with sanctioned Chinese entities may not have been reported,” Cotton wrote. “Therefore, I encourage additional scrutiny of financial ties between American universities and Communist China.”
Cotton pointed to data published after the department relaunched its reporting portal in January. According to the senator, federally funded universities had reported receiving more than $6.8 billion from “Communist China — including more than $300 million from sanctioned entities.”
Harvard alone accounted for more than $630 million in reported funding from Chinese entities, Cotton said.
“Harvard, for instance, has received more than $630 million from Chinese entities,” Cotton wrote. “This includes roughly $418,000 from organizations participating in foreign talent programs and nearly $420,000 from entities allegedly supporting unauthorized military advancements.”
The senator’s concerns center on whether additional transactions may have gone unreported, particularly those involving entities subject to U.S. sanctions or other restrictions.
Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chinese Entities Fund Universities Nationwide
The concerns surrounding foreign funding extend well beyond Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Education Department data shows that several Chinese entities appearing on U.S. government watch lists have provided substantial sums to universities across the country.
Four Chinese organizations rank among the five largest funders on those watch lists, collectively providing approximately $119 million to American universities.
The organizations include the Beijing Institute of Tech, Air China, Ltd., Huawei Technologies Co., and Ocean University of China.
The figures have intensified questions about the degree to which foreign governments, companies and affiliated organizations may influence American higher education through financial relationships.
Education Department Defends New Reporting System
The Education Department announced late last year that it would overhaul its foreign funding portal, arguing that the previous system had been neglected under the Biden administration.
The new system is intended to make it easier for universities to comply with federal disclosure requirements while giving government officials greater visibility into foreign financial relationships.
“After years of neglect by the Biden Administration, the new portal will assist our institutions of higher education in fulfilling their statutory responsibilities and enable us to protect our national security by facilitating improved compliance,” McMahon said in a statement at the time.
McMahon also emphasized that universities receiving taxpayer support have an obligation to disclose their foreign financial relationships.
“America’s taxpayer-funded colleges and universities have both a moral and legal obligation to be fully transparent with the U.S. government and the American people about their foreign financial relationships,” she continued.
The updated reporting data has now placed Harvard at the center of a broader debate over foreign money in American higher education. With lawmakers questioning whether all transactions have been properly disclosed, scrutiny of university ties to China and other countries of concern is likely to continue.
