Lawmakers target university funding linked to adversarial nations

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is proposing new restrictions on foreign funding tied to U.S. universities, with a focus on institutions connected to countries the bill authors describe as adversarial. The effort is aimed at limiting outside influence in higher education and protecting sensitive research. The legislation would cut off federal funding for colleges that operate branch campuses in those countries or accept research support in strategic fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing. Supporters say the proposal is meant to reduce risks involving foreign influence, espionage, and the transfer of sensitive knowledge. Rep. Elise Stefanik and Sen. Rick Scott are among the lawmakers backing the measures, which also mention countries including China, Qatar, North Korea, Venezuela, Turkey, Cuba, Iran, and Russia. The lawmakers say they want universities to reconsider ties with foreign governments if they want to keep receiving federal research dollars.