US Congressman urges Pentagon to expand PLA-linked research risk list by 150+ institutions
Synopsis
A top US congressman has asked the Pentagon to dramatically widen its list of Chinese institutions deemed research security threats — adding over 150 entities including PLA-linked labs, CCP-partnered science institutes, and universities co-run by China's defence-industry regulator. The accompanying push to ban China Scholarship Council-funded researchers from all defence work could reshape how American universities and agencies screen foreign collaborators.
Key Takeaways
Representative John Moolenaar wrote to Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, 15 October 2026 , urging expansion of the Pentagon's Section 1286 List .
The request covers more than 150 Chinese institutions , including 14 Chinese Academy of Sciences institutes , 62 defence laboratories , and 58 universities .
22 foreign malign talent programmes in quantum and AI sectors are also nominated for inclusion.
Moolenaar called for a blanket ban on China Scholarship Council-funded researchers participating in any defence-funded research.
The Pentagon had already notified 30 institutions of identified risks and directed corrective action prior to this letter.
The House Select Committee on China was established in 2023 and has been a primary driver of US legislative pressure on research security.
Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, on Wednesday wrote to Secretary Pete Hegseth urging the Department of Defense to add more than 150 Chinese institutions and 22 talent programmes to its Section 1286 List — a Pentagon tool that identifies foreign entities posing research security risks. The letter also calls for barring personnel funded by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) from any defence-funded research.
What Moolenaar Is Demanding
The committee's request covers 14 Chinese Academy of Sciences institutes described as 'core CCP defence partners', 62 Chinese laboratories and national defence laboratories, and 58 universities formally co-administered or jointly supported by China's State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence. It also includes 22 foreign malign talent programmes in sectors such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence, as well as the China Scholarship Council and affiliated scholars.
Evidence supporting the nominations was provided in an annex and supplemental documentation released alongside the letter. The individual institutions were not named in the public release's body text.
The Section 1286 List Explained
The Section 1286 List takes its name from a provision of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Inclusion on the list can directly restrict whether defence-funded researchers are permitted to maintain any working relationship with a listed entity. Moolenaar argued in his letter that 'the completeness and accuracy of the Section 1286 List becomes more important' as the Department seeks to strengthen its research security posture.
The letter noted that the department had already notified 30 institutions of 'identified risks' and directed corrective action — an indication that the review process is already producing results, even as lawmakers press for wider coverage.
Focus on Military-Relevant Research
According to the letter, the nominated laboratories conduct research directly relevant to weapons, aerospace, hypersonics, semiconductors, underwater systems, electronic warfare, and other military technologies. This framing reflects a broader congressional concern that US defence funding is indirectly subsidising Chinese military research through academic and institutional partnerships.
The letter followed a separate committee publication focused on halting what the panel described as China's theft of taxpayer-funded research — signalling a coordinated legislative push on the issue.
The CSC Researcher Ban
The Moolenaar letter's most operationally specific ask is a blanket prohibition on CSC-funded individuals participating in Pentagon-funded research. 'Individuals receiving CSC support should not be permitted to work on, contribute to, or otherwise participate in DOW-funded research for the duration of that support,' Moolenaar wrote. Crucially, he argued the ban should apply 'regardless of whether the individual is formally listed as a covered individual, principal investigator, co-investigator, or other named participant on the DOW award' — closing what critics view as a classification loophole.
Broader Context
The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party was established in 2023 and has since become one of Congress's most active bodies on US-China technology and security policy. This latest push is part of a sustained effort to tighten controls on research collaboration at a time when Washington and Beijing remain locked in an escalating competition over advanced technologies including AI, semiconductors, and hypersonics. How quickly the Pentagon acts on the committee's recommendations remains to be seen.
Point of View
It attempts to sidestep the civil-liberties objections that have slowed prior screening efforts. What is missing from the public record is any independent verification of the 150-plus institutions named in the annex, which has not been publicly released in full. The Pentagon's track record on Section 1286 compliance has been uneven, and without enforcement teeth — not just notifications to 30 institutions but actual funding consequences — the expanded list risks becoming another symbolic gesture in a competition that demands structural change.
NationPress
15 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Section 1286 List and why does it matter?
The Section 1286 List is a Pentagon registry, authorised under the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, that identifies foreign institutions and talent programmes considered a threat to US research security. An entity's inclusion can restrict whether defence-funded researchers are allowed to collaborate with it, making the list a direct lever over academic and scientific partnerships.
Which Chinese institutions has Moolenaar nominated for the list?
The nominations include 14 Chinese Academy of Sciences institutes described as core CCP defence partners, 62 Chinese laboratories and national defence laboratories, 58 universities co-administered by China's defence-industry regulator, and 22 foreign talent programmes in quantum and AI. The full list of individual institutions was provided in an annex not publicly disclosed in the committee's release.
What does the proposed China Scholarship Council ban involve?
Moolenaar asked the Pentagon to prohibit any individual receiving China Scholarship Council funding from working on, contributing to, or participating in defence-funded research for the duration of that funding. The ban would apply regardless of the individual's formal role — whether principal investigator, co-investigator, or other named participant.
Has the Pentagon taken any action on research security risks already?
Yes. According to the letter, the Department of Defense had already notified 30 institutions of identified research security risks and directed corrective action before Moolenaar's request. The congressman's letter seeks to build on that by widening the scope of the Section 1286 List significantly.
What is the House Select Committee on China and when was it formed?
The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party was established in 2023. It has since become one of Congress's most active bodies scrutinising US-China competition in technology, defence, and research security.
