House SST hearing frames foreign influence and staffing cuts as key threats to U.S. federally funded research

Chairman McCormick convened a House Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee hearing that centered on risks to U.S.-funded research from foreign influence, agency staffing changes and uneven enforcement of disclosure rules. Witnesses and members urged clearer, standardized research-security requirements across agencies and steady funding for programs created by the CHIPS and Science Act and National Security Presidential Memorandum 33.

The hearing focused on three linked concerns: deliberate foreign acquisition of U.S. research and intellectual property, inconsistent or insufficient compliance and monitoring by universities and agencies, and recent personnel and funding disruptions at agencies such as the National Science Foundation. "China is not our friend," said John Sargent, recently retired from the Congressional Research Service, summarizing testimony that said adversaries are aggressively pursuing U.S. technology.

Why it matters: Committee members and witnesses said the U.S. research enterprise depends on openness to attract talent and foster collaboration, but that openness can be exploited. Several witnesses argued that current rules and interagency practices leave gaps that adversaries can exploit, and that…