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DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act

HR 881/S ???

Author

Dusty Wilson
May 08, 2025

What is this bill?

The bill would order the Department of Homeland Security to revoke all funding & grants to universities that host a branch of the Confucius Institute, are involved in the Thousand Talents Program, or associated with any other programs funded by the Chinese government.

The Confucius Institute was founded in 2004 as a means of promoting Chinese culture via language classes, cultural events, and hosting forums. Critics claim they are sites of indoctrination and espionage. The second ever Confucius Institute opened at the University of Maryland and by 2019 around 100 Institutes had a home in America. However, all but five of them closed within two years due to the “…Department of Defense funding subject to limitations in the FY 2019 and FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Acts.” Or, more simply, if colleges hosted a Confucius Institute, they would be ineligible for funding or grants from the Department of Defense.

As of 2023, the location of Confucius Institutions include:

  • Pacific Lutheran University

  • San Diego Global Knowledge University

  • St. Cloud University (as of 2023 it is under review & paused)

  • Stanford University

  • University of Utah

  • Webster University

The Thousand Talents Program is an initiative with the goal of coaxing scientific and mathematical talents to immigrate to China. The program has had mixed results, but also it seems more interested in creating individual connections with American professors and not specifically with colleges. As such, I have no idea how this law would directly effect a college, unless they were directed to fire all professors with said connections.

Finally, there are the Chinese entities of concern. The act defines this as “…any university or college in China that is involved in China's military, police, or intelligence activities.” They’re not the most unbiased of sources, but the neoconservative Foundation for Defense of Democracies listed 16 Chinese universities that work with the Chinese military. As I said, it’s a heavily biased source, but considering much of the language of this bill is in their 2021 report, it’s safe to assume that ties to these universities are direct targets. This bill would ban all American universities from “…[being] awarded a contract…, enter[ing] into an agreement with, or receiv[ing] an in-kind donation or gift” from any Chinese university found to be working with Chinese military, police, or intelligence.

What makes this bill fascist?

I’m willing to be convinced otherwise on this, but the main reason I think this bill is fascist is that it gives an admin that seems hellbent on financially ruining universities that don’t fall in ideological line another avenue to commit harm. As stated before, there is already precedent for using the Confucius Institute as a reason to revoke DoD federal grants, but it’s more the third category of ‘entities of concern’ that, well, concerns me.

What specifically counts as entering into an agreement? Is this sharing research? Working together on studies? Would a basic student exchange program count?

The Department of Homeland Security is already using other avenues to revoke federal funding & grants from colleges, but it never hurts to have a fully passed law in your corner if you want to cut an extra $391.6 million from the budget.

Which Dems voted for it?

Did it pass?

  • Passed the House on 5/7/25 by a vote of 266-153