Pentagon Labels Confucius Institutes on U.S. Campuses a National-Security Threat

On October 23, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense has added Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes to a list of institutions deemed threats to national security. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Straits TimesChina-funded Confucius Institutes deemed US national security threat — Hegseth New Tang Dynasty

Confucius Institutes, presented as Chinese language and culture centers, first opened on U.S. campuses in 2004, beginning at the University of Maryland. At their peak they operated at roughly 100 universities and also in K-12 schools. Congressional action in recent years restricted federal funding for the programs, prompting many closures. A 2019 bipartisan Senate investigation found that the Chinese government supplied funding, teachers, and materials while retaining significant control over staffing, programming, and speaker selection, raising concerns about academic freedom and foreign influence.

New Tang Dynasty

He noted that the Department of War (DoW) added the “sleeper organizations” to its threat list and that the recent August order required 30 academic institutions to review foreign partnerships, including rebranded Confucius Institutes. Hegseth warned universities to remain vigilant against such influences.

New Tang Dynasty

• 80 new organizations were identified across 30 universities, according to Hegseth’s statements.

China-funded Confucius Institutes deemed US national security threat — Hegseth

• The institutes originally expanded to about 100 campuses before funding restrictions curtailed growth.

New Tang Dynasty

• The Senate investigation (2019) documented direct Chinese government control over staffing and programming.

New Tang Dynasty

• “It turns out that 80 new propaganda cells across 30 universities had popped up using different names and different charters, but with the same mission: to steal intellectual property and to infiltrate the minds of American students,” — Pete Hegseth, US defense secretary

The Straits Times

• “We added these sleeper organizations to our list of institutions that threaten our national security,” — Pete Hegseth, US defense secretary

China-funded Confucius Institutes deemed US national security threat — Hegseth

• “These Chinese government-backed propaganda cultural programs had infiltrated our nation's universities in almost every state. Now, thankfully, Congress banned them a few years ago. These Confucius Institutes, but they came back disguised in new forms, just like DEI does. Just call it a different name,” — Pete Hegseth, US defense secretary

New Tang Dynasty

• “Let this be a lesson to any country trying to steal our hard-earned inventions or turn our young people against their own country. We're done with that. No more, and never again. To these universities, I say, just like the Department of War, stay vigilant. Don't allow these influences to come back in,” — Pete Hegseth, US defense secretary

New Tang Dynasty