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NSF SECURE Center
Research Security Briefing

Vol. 2, No. 11
April 2, 2026

The NSF SECURE Center distributes research security briefings and timely alerts via its listserv. The Briefing provides a centralized resource for research security-related information, including new statutory and research funding agency requirements, new or updated federal and community resources, and significant news items and scholarly works. The Center will also assess and provide commentary, interpretation, or implementation considerations on new requirements, notices and resources, working with higher education associations, legal partners, or agencies as needed.

Federal News & Updates

​House Committee Holds Hearing on Espionage in U.S. Universities

The March 26, 2026, House Education and Workforce Committee hearing, “U.S. Universities Under Siege: Foreign Espionage, Stolen Innovation, and the National Security Threat,” examined concerns about foreign influence, particularly from China, on U.S. campuses. Committee leadership pointed to recent incidents, including alleged smuggling of biological materials and efforts by foreign actors to solicit sensitive research, arguing that universities are increasingly targeted in geopolitical competition for technology and innovation.

 

The hearing featured testimony from:

  • Dr. Domenico Grasso, Interim President, University of Michigan

  • Ms. Cassandra Farley, Senior Director, Research Integrity, Security & Compliance, University of Florida

  • Ms. Melissa Emrey-Arras, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team, Government Accountability Office

  • Ms. Elsa Johnson, Editor-in-Chief, The Stanford Review, Stanford University

 

Witnesses described both institutional responses and firsthand experiences regarding research security and foreign interference. Lawmakers raised questions related to gaps in research security training, foreign funding transparency, and the need for stronger federal reporting requirements, including proposals like the DETERRENT Act.

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At the same time, the hearing revealed a sharp partisan divide. Republicans emphasized research security risks and institutional vulnerabilities, arguing that universities must take more aggressive steps to safeguard federally funded research. Democrats, however, questioned whether the threat was being overstated, suggesting universities do not seem to be anything close to “under siege,” and warned that the focus could fuel xenophobia or distract from broader higher education challenges such as student debt, federal policy changes, and significant staffing reductions at the U.S. Department of Education.

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University leaders described ongoing efforts to strengthen research security, including expanded background checks, enhanced oversight of sensitive materials, and increased coordination with federal law enforcement. They also underscored the continued importance of international collaboration for attracting global talent and advancing science, reinforcing the tension between security and openness.

Upcoming Webinar: Multiple NSF Directorates Invite Research Security-Related Proposals

The National Science Foundation (NSF) will be holding a webinar on April 29, 2026, from 4-5:30pm EST, highlighting and differentiating the range of research security funding opportunities from multiple NSF directorates appropriate for those involved in research security policy, implementation, administration, and research. All organization types, including those in EPSCoR jurisdictions, are encouraged to attend. The following NSF programs will participate:

 

Register now to learn more.  Note that content provided at the April 29 webinar will be identical to that presented at the April 2, 2026, session.

Department of Education Webinar on Foreign Funding Portal

On March 23, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) held a webinar about the Department’s new portal displaying foreign gift and contract data reported by institutions of higher education (IHEs) under requirements of Higher Education Act (HEA) section 117.  Paul Moore, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Investigative Counsel for ED, provided an overview of the history of HEA 117, including the June 2020 launch of the first iteration of ED’s HEA 117 reporting portal, that resulted in IHEs submitting $6.5 billion in new and “catch-up” reporting of foreign gifts and contracts.  Moore stated that ED hopes to make the information reported by IHEs regarding counterparties of agreements publicly available by summer 2026, pending a rulemaking process.  When asked whether ED’s new portal would be updated to include data related to the date ranges of gifts and contracts reported by IHEs, Moore noted that spreadsheets including these data points are available for download from ED’s website.

Research Security News, Reports & Events

Please note, articles linked below may require a subscription to view.

NSF SECURE Center cannot distribute copies of subscription-based articles.

Geopolitical tensions are leading China to rethink research collaborations
(Nature, 3/25/2026)

Based on a series of 2025 interviews held with senior academics and administrators from Chinese universities, the author posits that China’s approach to international research collaboration is evolving in response to rising geopolitical tensions, particularly with the United States and Europe. Rather than retreating from global science, Chinese institutions are restructuring collaboration models to balance openness with tighter state control, often centering partnerships through defense-linked universities known as the “Seven Sons of National Defense.” These institutions are playing an increasingly prominent role in managing structured, long-term international partnerships while aligning research with national strategic priorities.  In addition, the author notes that “it is increasingly difficult to partner with institutions in the United States and parts of Europe amid tighter regulatory environments. This has prompted Chinese universities to shift towards Asia, the Middle East and selected European partners.”

 

At the same time, Chinese universities are expanding the use of virtual and hybrid collaboration platforms, allowing foreign researchers to participate in projects without direct access to sensitive data or infrastructure. While these controlled systems can slow research and add administrative complexity, they enable continued international engagement under stricter oversight. The broader trend reflects a shift toward “controlled openness,” where collaboration continues but within clearly defined boundaries. (more)

NIH restrictions on foreign research partnerships significantly impacted 1 in 4 U.S. scientists
(STAT, 3/27/2026)

A recent national survey of NIH-funded researchers finds that federal restrictions on foreign subawards, which prevent U.S. scientists from directly sharing grant funds with international collaborators, are significantly disrupting research. About one in four researchers reported being substantially affected, with additional respondents noting smaller impacts. Scientists say the policy is making projects harder to manage, weakening collaboration, and adding administrative burden without clear efficiency gains. In some cases, international partnerships have been scaled back or eliminated, complicating oversight and scientific coordination. While policymakers frame the changes as improving accountability and control over federal funds, many researchers warn the restrictions are undermining global collaboration and reducing the flexibility needed to conduct complex, multi-institutional science. (more)

The Shocking Speed of China’s Scientific Rise
(The Atlantic, 3/27/2026)

The article argues that China may be on the verge of surpassing the United States as the world’s leading scientific power through a gradual, systemic shift rather than a single breakthrough.  While U.S. science faces challenges including funding cuts, workforce losses, and policy disruptions, China has rapidly expanded its research enterprise, dramatically increasing investment, producing more STEM graduates, and improving the quality and global impact of its scientific output.

 

Although traditional indicators like publications and Nobel Prizes lag behind real-time progress, other evidence suggests a shift in momentum, such as China’s growing leadership in international collaborations and advances in key applied technologies like batteries, electric vehicles, and solar energy. The article concludes that whether China ultimately becomes the dominant scientific superpower will depend on the long-term impact of its discoveries, but the global balance of scientific leadership may already be changing. (more)

The Regulated Research Community of Practice (RRCoP) is a national, community-led network of research institutions working together to support the growing demands of federally regulated research and research security compliance. Established through a National Science Foundation initiative, RRCoP brings together professionals across higher education, government, and industry to share expertise, develop practical resources, and build institutional capacity in areas such as cybersecurity, controlled data (e.g., CUI), and evolving federal requirements like CMMC and NSPM-33.

 

Through a combination of monthly webinars (held the second Wednesday at 2pm ET), workshops, shared tools and templates, and more, the community enables institutions to learn from one another, avoid duplicative efforts, and to accelerate compliant research while reducing administrative burden. With participation from more than 380 institutions, RRCoP connects stakeholders across research administration, IT, and compliance to address complex challenges collectively.

 

At its next monthly webinar on April 8, 2026 (2pm ET/11am PT), RRCoP will host Yang Guo from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), focusing on the work underway by the NIST working group focused on High-Performance Computing (HPC) security. HPC environments come with their own security challenges, and NIST has been working directly with the HPC community to develop specific guidance for them. This session is a chance to hear where that work has landed, and what it may mean for institutions that rely on or support these environments. This session continues from previous work shared in January 2023.

Regulated Research Community of Practice

RISC Bulletin

Texas A&M University’s Research and Innovation Security and Competitiveness (RISC) Institute disseminates weekly RISC Media Bulletins, covering topics related to research security, foreign influence, and the intersection of science, technology, and national security.  To join the distribution list for the RISC Bulletin or view previous editions, click here.

NSF SECURE Opportunities, Updates & Resources

Registration Open: NSF SECURE Center Webinar on DoW Risk Matrix with Kris Gardner and Lori Schultz

The NSF SECURE Center will host a webinar on April 14, 2026, at 12pm PT (1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET) with Kris Gardner, Director of Science and Technology Protection in the U.S. Department of War (DoW).  Gardner will join NSF SECURE Center Deputy Director Lori Schultz to discuss recent updates to the DOW’s “Component Decision Matrix to Inform Fundamental Research Proposal Mitigation Decisions.”

 

Registration is open via this link. A more detailed description is available on LinkedIn and will be included in next week's Research Security Briefing.

Introduction to NSF SECURE Center Webinar Recording Now Available

A recording is now available of the session “Introduction to the NSF SECURE Center,” originally presented as part of the February 2026 COGR virtual membership meeting.  In this presentation, NSF SECURE Center staff provide an introduction to the tools and resources in the Shared Virtual Environment (SVE), progress made throughout the Center’s first year, existing tools, and what is coming next.

NSF SECURE Center Communications Template for DoW Risk Matrix Updates

Shared Virtual Environment (SVE) Website Access

As reported in the March 20, 2026, Research Security Briefing, on March 9, 2026, the U.S. Department of War (DoW) released an updated version of the Department’s “Component Decision Matrix to Inform Fundamental Research Proposal Mitigation Decisions.”  In follow-up, the NSF SECURE Center, working collaboratively with the research security community, developed a communications template that institutions can adapt and use in email messaging to their current DoW senior/key personnel and recent applicants, as well as in newsletters targeting their broader campus research communities. The NSF SECURE Center appreciates the feedback received from the community, particularly the contributions from Amy Weber of Northwestern University.

Are you a member of the NSF SECURE Center’s Shared Virtual Environment (SVE)?  The NSF SECURE Center website now includes a direct login for the SVE—still using the two-factor security protocol.  Not a member yet?  Request access from the same site.  Within the SVE, members can engage in the Community Forum to connect, ask questions, and work through challenges together, access NSF SECURE Center resources, and more.

NSF SECURE Center Calendar of Events

Each week, the NSF SECURE Center hosts events through the National and Regional Centers, including co-creation workshops, educational, and engagement sessions with the research community. The events calendar provides more information about these opportunities and more.

Previous NSF SECURE Center Research Security Briefings

2026 issues of the Research Security Briefing are available on the NSF SECURE Center website.

A combined, searchable version of all 2025 issues of the Briefing is also available.

Looking to participate in NSF SECURE Center co-creation activities or contribute to weekly briefings?

Contact info@secure-center.org or sign up here.

The information provided by the NSF SECURE Center is intended for general research and educational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our content, we do not guarantee its completeness, timeliness, or applicability to specific circumstances. Each user is responsible for conducting their own risk assessments and making decisions based on independent judgment.

 

Further, the NSF SECURE Center does not provide professional or legal advice, and users are encouraged to consult qualified professionals before making decisions based on the information found here. The NSF SECURE Center shall not be liable for any damages or costs of any type arising out of or in any way connected with your use of this information. External links are provided for convenience and do not constitute an endorsement of the content or services offered by any third-party resources.

 

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 2403771.  Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation or other U.S. Government Agencies.

Briefing Contents

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