NASA – Lawmakers Press FBI and NASA Over China Links
NASA – Two senior Republican leaders in Congress have formally urged federal authorities to examine potential links between American research funding and institutions connected to the Chinese Communist Party.
In separate letters dated February 12, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley and House Select Committee on the CCP Chairman John Moolenaar contacted FBI Director Kash Patel and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. The lawmakers said they are conducting oversight into what they described as Beijing’s growing influence within American universities and scientific research centers supported by taxpayer funds.
Concerns Over University Research Ties
Grassley and Moolenaar wrote that U.S. universities have increasingly become targets for foreign efforts to obtain advanced research and intellectual property. They argued that federally funded projects may be vulnerable to outside influence, particularly when researchers collaborate internationally.
The correspondence references a December 17, 2025 investigative report issued jointly by the House Select Committee on China and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. According to that report, Chinese authorities have sought to leverage U.S. Department of Energy-funded research for technological and military advancement.
The lawmakers cited the report’s findings as part of a broader review into how federal agencies monitor and safeguard grant-funded research.
Case Study Raises Questions
Among the examples highlighted was work conducted by Stanford University professor Wendy Mao. Lawmakers said that while carrying out research backed by a Department of Energy award, Mao simultaneously held a position at the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research. That institution operates under the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, which has appeared on the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List since 1997.
According to the congressional letter, Mao has co-authored at least 58 publications acknowledging Department of Energy funding, including 31 joint works with researchers affiliated with HPSTAR since 2013.
The lawmakers did not allege wrongdoing but said the overlap in affiliations warrants closer examination given existing restrictions on collaboration with certain Chinese entities.
NASA Grant Under Review
The inquiry also references a 2024 research paper that acknowledged financial support from NASA’s Exoplanet Program and the National Science Foundation. The publication credited computational resources provided by a Chinese university’s supercomputing center and listed only Stanford and Chinese co-authors.
Grassley and Moolenaar said the acknowledgment of NASA funding in a paper involving Chinese collaborators could raise compliance questions under federal law if specific approvals were not obtained.
The issue centers on the Wolf Amendment, a provision included in annual appropriations legislation. The amendment prohibits NASA and researchers funded by the agency from engaging in bilateral cooperation with Chinese government-linked entities unless authorization is granted and Congress and the FBI are formally notified.
Requests for Federal Clarification
In their letter to the FBI, the lawmakers asked whether a waiver under the Wolf Amendment was requested for NASA Award No. 80NSSC23K0265. They also sought information on how many such waivers have been submitted since 2015 and what procedures the Bureau uses when evaluating them.
Separately, they asked NASA to provide detailed documentation related to the same award, including subawards and internal legal guidance governing compliance with the Wolf Amendment. The request also seeks clarification on when relevant policies were last reviewed or updated.
The lawmakers set a February 26, 2026 deadline for responses from both agencies.
Broader Oversight Effort
The letters reflect heightened congressional scrutiny over research security and foreign influence in federally funded scientific programs. In recent years, lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about intellectual property protection and transparency in international collaborations.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Energy and NASA, have implemented compliance measures aimed at safeguarding sensitive research while maintaining global scientific partnerships. However, congressional committees continue to review whether existing controls are sufficient.
Neither NASA nor the FBI publicly commented on the letters at the time they were made available to the media.