Senator Urges FBI, Justice Dept. To Reveal Foreign Threats To US Research Centers

The FBI and the Department of Justice must brief US lawmakers on the threat to national security posed by foreign actors who seek to infiltrate and manipulate American research institutions, Senator Chuck Grassley wrote in a letter on Friday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2019) The FBI and the Department of Justice must brief US lawmakers on the threat to national security posed by foreign actors who seek to infiltrate and manipulate American research institutions, Senator Chuck Grassley wrote in a letter on Friday.

"The threats to our academic institutions from foreign governments are well known," Grassley wrote to the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services Inspector General. "Our government must take all reasonable and necessary steps to protect the integrity of taxpayer-funded research."

The letter requested information about the threats posed by foreign actors seeking to steal US intellectual property by exploiting US research institutions and the vetting processes in place regarding researchers and public grants, Grassley said.

Grassley is requesting information from the Justice Department regarding the FBI background check process for researchers and about the steps Federal law enforcement has taken to educate various government agencies and institutions of the threat, the release said.

The senator is also requesting information from the Health and Human Services Inspector General regarding the department's role in ensuring the integrity of research and its investigative history with respect to foreign threats to US research within the last five years.