Comer probes Biden admin's failure to enforce foreign funding reporting requirements at US colleges

The House Oversight Committee on Wednesday announced an investigation into foreign funding at U.S. colleges and universities, including the Biden administration's alleged failure to enforce federal reporting standards on the influx.

The investigation reopens previous probes from President Donald Trump's first administration, which the Biden administration pulled when it took over. The probe comes after the Department of Education reported that foreign nations donated significant money to U.S. higher education that goes back decades.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer and House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, who also serves on the Oversight committee, are leading the investigation. 

“The Department of Education’s foreign funding reports show that foreign nations gave more than $57 billion to U.S. institutions since 1981,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Education Denise Carter. “The Biden Administration rolled back investigations into foreign funding in academia that took place in the first Trump Administration, and many institutions have failed to make disclosures for funds received since 2020.”

The lawmakers noted that Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 mandates that higher education institutions, which receive federal financial assistance, file biannual disclosure reports with the Secretary of Education.

An investigation under the first Trump administration found that $6.5 billion in foreign money was previously unreported.

“American academia remains a target of foreign malign influence, particularly to countries whose interests are antithetical to America and its national security," the lawmakers continued. "The Committee seeks to ensure that the Department is safeguarding American education from foreign malign influence efforts that compromise America’s academic freedom and national security."

The committee asked Carter to submit a list of Section 117 compliance investigations opened since January 20, 2021, a list of the investigations that have been closed since 2021, and all referrals of Section 117 noncompliance by March 5.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.