White House and Pentagon tighten protections for federally funded U.S. research

The White House released a National Security Science and Technology Strategy that calls for stronger safeguards across the U.S. research ecosystem, including automated research-security vetting, continuous monitoring of federally supported projects, expanded counterintelligence support, shared information repositories, and clearer cybersecurity guidance for researchers and institutions. The strategy argues that stronger defenses are needed to protect U.S. economic and military advantages from foreign interference, technology theft, and other threats targeting innovation, while also emphasizing workforce development and the need to attract top global talent in critical science and technology fields.

The policy push coincided with a Pentagon order directing 30 U.S. universities and specialized technology institutes to audit their academic, financial, and research ties to foreign entities considered risky or hostile. The Defense Department said the reviews are meant to prevent unauthorized technology transfer and intellectual property theft tied to entities in countries including China, Russia, and Iran, as well as organizations linked to rebranded Confucius Institutes; schools must report findings and mitigation steps by August 31, 2026 or risk losing eligibility for future federal research funding.