• The University of Michigan is being investigated by the US Department of Education due to charges against two Chinese scientists.
• Concerns are raised over the university's handling of foreign funding and its national security vulnerabilities.
• The investigation follows accusations of smuggling biological materials by individuals associated with the university.
• The Education Department demands detailed financial records within 30 days.
• This inquiry is part of broader scrutiny on US universities collaborating with Chinese institutions.

The University of Michigan is currently under federal investigation initiated by the US Department of Education following the recent arrest of two Chinese scientists linked to its research facilities on charges of smuggling biological materials into the United States. The inquiry is focused on the university's handling of foreign funding and raises significant national security concerns related to collaborations with Chinese institutions, particularly after the Department of Justice described their actions as potentially involving “agroterrorism,” according to SCMP, Newsweek, The Hill, and India Times.

The investigation was triggered by allegations that the University of Michigan provided inaccurate and incomplete disclosures related to its foreign funding. Paul Moore, the chief investigative counsel for the Department of Education, indicated that the university has historically downplayed its vulnerabilities to foreign influence. He emphasized the university's moral and legal obligation to fully disclose foreign partnerships, stating, “UM’s research laboratories remain vulnerable to sabotage,” as reported by SCMP, Newsweek, The Hill, and India Times.

As part of the investigation, the Education Department is demanding that the university submit various documents, including tax records and agreements related to foreign funding since 2020. Noncompliance may lead to civil enforcement actions from the Department of Justice. Notably, similar investigations have been launched into other institutions, such as Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley, highlighting broader scrutiny on university partnerships involving foreign nationals, according to SCMP, Newsweek, The Hill, and India Times.

The urgency of this investigation was underscored by the recent arrests of the two Chinese scientists—one arrested for attempting to smuggle a toxic fungus and another for shipping biological materials to a lab at the university. In response to these events, the university publicly condemned any actions threatening national security and initiated a review of its research security protocols. However, the Department of Education expressed concerns that some university officials have minimized the risks posed by foreign collaborations, especially with Chinese entities, according to SCMP, Newsweek, The Hill, and India Times.