(Washington, D.C.) – Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin, Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Jay Obernolte, and Investigations and Oversight Chairman Rich McCormick sent a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) assess the implementation of federal research security guidelines by science agencies and research institutions.
In the letter, the Chairmen wrote:
“Since World War II, America’s research enterprise has delivered profound benefits for our health, economy, and national security. This leadership is rooted in the core commitment of our shared research environment to openness, transparency, honesty, fair competition, objectivity, and democratic values.”
They also highlighted growing foreign threats from nations such as China, Russia, and Iran:
“Multiple foreign governments… are working vigorously to acquire U.S. research and technology through both licit and illicit means. These efforts include attempts to recruit American scientists… or to inappropriately disclose non-public results from research funded by U.S. government sources.”
While pointing to recent federal actions—such as NSPM-33 and guidance from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy—as positive steps, the Chairmen emphasized the need for thorough oversight and consistent implementation. The letter calls on the GAO to evaluate how federal science agencies and research institutions incorporate these new standards, and what metrics are in place to measure their effectiveness.
The Chairmen also reiterated the critical importance of U.S. leadership in science and technology, warning that our strategic advantage could be undermined if malign foreign influence is not properly addressed.
The Biden Administration’s failure to execute the directives given by Congress has had a lasting effect on our research enterprise’s ability to address major threats from nefarious actors. Now that our research institutions finally have the guidance necessary to implement research security measures, it is crucial that we understand how to measure the impacts of these actions.
Our adversaries will continue to adapt and change their methods for stealing American research and intellectual property. The work requested of GAO would provide Congress with crucial information to address emerging gaps and continue to provide our academic enterprise with the tools required to secure U.S. taxpayer-funded research.
To read the full letter, click here.