UC Berkeley, Harvard Investigated Over China Funding

The Trump administration has launched a federal investigation into UC Berkeley for allegedly failing to fully disclose over $220 million in foreign funding, primarily from Chinese government sources for joint research with Tsinghua University. This action follows media reports and a 2023 House committee investigation into the university's foreign funding practices. President Trump has signed an executive order tightening disclosure enforcement and shifting oversight to the Department of Education's Office of General Counsel, criticizing previous lax policies. UC Berkeley has acknowledged past reporting failures and says it is cooperating with federal inquiries. Concerns center on potential technology transfers to Chinese entities and the implications for future federal funding. Berkeley, along with Harvard and other top U.S. universities, now faces intensified federal scrutiny over foreign influence and financial transparency.