Washington, May 15, 2026 — Two senior Republican members of Congress have introduced legislation intended to stop entities tied to China’s military or intelligence services from accessing federally funded American research. The proposal’s sponsors say Beijing has taken advantage of the United States’ open academic system to advance its military and technological capabilities.
Rep. John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, and Rep. Jim Banks unveiled the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act. The bill would prohibit the use of U.S. federal research dollars in collaborations with individuals or organizations linked to China’s military, intelligence apparatus, or those already placed on U.S. government restricted lists.
Lawmakers backing the measure argue that taxpayer-funded research — including work at universities, national laboratories and private research institutions — has become susceptible to exploitation through partnerships, technology exchanges and scientific cooperation programs. They say the proposed law would close gaps that have allowed some China-affiliated institutions to benefit from American innovation.
Under the bill, federally funded institutions would be barred from conducting joint research projects, co-authoring studies, sharing data with, or exchanging personnel with entities on U.S. restricted lists. The legislation specifically cites concerns about China’s military-civil fusion strategy, under which civilian research and academic collaboration may be used to support military modernization.
Rep. Banks said Americans should not be indirectly funding advances that strengthen an adversary’s military capabilities. Moolenaar added that recent executive-branch and Department of Defense steps to tighten research security should be enshrined in statute.
The measure includes narrow waiver provisions to allow collaborations deemed essential for national security, scientific progress or public health. Those exemptions would require transparency safeguards and notification to Congress, according to the bill’s text.
Supporters of the bill say it is aimed at protecting sensitive technologies and ensuring that federal research investments benefit the United States. Critics may raise concerns about potential impacts on academic collaboration and scientific openness; the bill’s waiver and oversight provisions are intended to address such issues.
The proposal was announced May 15 and sourced from an ANI report. If advanced, it would mark a significant legislative step toward formalizing research-security limits that have so far largely been implemented through agency rules and guidance.
