Story perspectives

NSF Acts After FBI Flags Program Officer’s Chinese Ties

8/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

Tao Li, NSF program officer (2015-2017), managed computer-science research funding while secretly joining Chinese talent programs.
He participated in two Chinese talent-plan initiatives, and the FBI flagged his Dragon Star ties in 2019, warning they could enable theft of foreign technology.
Li helped award U.S. grants to at least seven scientists who allegedly concealed Dragon Star involvement.
The Inspector General’s probe lasted about seven years before NSF took action.

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Story summary

Tao Li, NSF program officer (2015-2017), managed computer-science research funding while secretly joining Chinese talent programs.
He participated in two Chinese talent-plan initiatives, and the FBI flagged his Dragon Star ties in 2019, warning they could enable theft of foreign technology.
Li helped award U.S. grants to at least seven scientists who allegedly concealed Dragon Star involvement.
The Inspector General’s probe lasted about seven years before NSF took action.