AFT and AAUP Protest Department of War's University Investigation Directive

Academic Leaders Criticize New Government Directive on University Collaborations

WASHINGTON—In response to a recent directive from the Department of War, which calls for 30 universities to conduct extensive reviews of their collaborations with certain foreign entities, leaders from two major academic organizations have voiced their concerns. The directive requires these institutions to scrutinize their academic, financial, and research activities within a two-week period.

AFT President Randi Weingarten and American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson have publicly condemned this action. “The AAUP and AFT condemn the recent directive from the Department of War that publicly places 30 universities under suspicion and gives them two weeks to investigate years of academic activity,” they stated. Their response highlights the potential for racial and national-origin profiling, which they argue could jeopardize the core principles of academic freedom, open inquiry, and international scholarly cooperation.

The directive has been criticized for potentially leveraging federal research funding as a form of coercion. Weingarten and Wolfson expressed concern that the government has not disclosed the criteria used to select these universities, nor has it provided evidence of any wrongdoing. They question the legal authority of the Department of War to extend its influence over all federal research funding, beyond its own budget, based on compliance with this directive.

The academic leaders are calling for the Department of War to withdraw the directive and instead pursue a transparent dialogue with the academic community. They emphasize the need to address genuine security concerns while maintaining global academic research, cross-border scientific collaboration, and the free exchange of ideas that have positioned U.S. research institutions as global leaders.

About the AFT

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) represents a diverse group of 1.8 million members, including pre-K through 12th-grade educators, paraprofessionals, higher education faculty, and various public service professionals such as nurses and healthcare workers.

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