House Science Committee Examines Threats to U.S. Funded Research

House Science Committee Examines Threats to U.S. Funded Research 

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee recently held a hearing to assess the current threat to the U.S. research enterprise posed by malign foreign actors, including risks to federal, state, non-governmental institutions, and academia.  The hearing also explored trends and tactics used to steal, exploit, and undermine U.S. science, research, development, and deployment.     

Congress and the executive branch have initiated actions intended to preserve the benefits of an open research environment while securing it from external threats by foreign governments. In 2019, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 directed federal agencies to develop descriptions of known and potential threats to federally funded research and development (R&D) and to the integrity of the U.S. scientific enterprise. 

“America’s leadership in science and technology was built on the foundation of federal investment in basic research,” noted Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX), opening the hearing.  “Our unique research ecosystem, which combines federal, academic, and private R&D efforts, drives America’s advancement in science and technology. However, for this system to work, we need a degree of open science that facilitates collaboration and transparency. The challenge is ensuring this openness does not compromise our research security.” 

Witnesses included: Mr. Jeffrey Stoff, President, Center for Research Security & Integrity; Mr. John F. Sargent Jr., Retired, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, Congressional Research Service; and Dr. Maria Zuber, E.A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics and Presidential Advisor for Science and Technology Policy, MIT. 

To watch the full hearing and access witness testimony, visit: https://science.house.gov/hearings?ContentRecord_id=AF427EB5-6C60-4AAA-8A9F-99981319EBBB