The department said Tuesday it planned to condition access to participation in federal student-loan programs on compliance with foreign-funding obligations. The government has expressed concern that foreign money may come with strings attached, provide foreign governments improper access to sensitive research or limit academic freedom in some programs. Reviews of Foreign Funding Education Department Investigating Harvard, Yale Over Foreign Funding (Feb. 13)The Justice Department has been cracking down on violations of a law that requires lobbyists for foreign nationals and governments to publicly disclose that work. Since 2019, the Education Department has opened investigations into a dozen top universities including Harvard University and Yale University, finding that U.S. universities failed to report at least $6.5 billion in such funds. The Education Department said it would encourage schools’ independent auditors to provide opinions on foreign gifts and may work with the Justice Department regarding potential enforcement against specific institutions.

Source: Wall Street Journal October 20, 2020 20:49 UTC