Sens. Banks, Blackburn Lead Colleagues Urging Review of CCP-Linked Educational Partnerships

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) joined Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the State Department to review partnerships between American educational institutions and entities affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

In the letter, the senators warn that CCP-linked organizations have used educational and cultural exchange programs to advance propaganda, shape narratives, and expand Beijing's influence inside the United States. The letter also argues that K-12 partnerships have not received the same level of scrutiny as higher education.

Read the full letter here or below:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write to express concern regarding partnerships between U.S. educational institutions and entities affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including schools connected to the United Front Work Department and other PRC connected organs. While our federal and educational leaders have taken steps in recent years to address foreign influence in higher education, many K-12 and informal educational partnerships have not been meaningfully scrutinized through any form of federal review or oversight.

We also want to commend the administration's continued leadership in confronting CCP malign influence and advancing policies that strengthen America's national security interests. Longstanding efforts to expose foreign influence operations and protect American institutions from CCP interference have been critical in raising awareness of the challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party. As you know, the CCP has long used educational and cultural exchange programs as part of its broader soft-power strategy to advance propaganda, shape narratives, and stifle dissident voices. Although the closure of Confucius Institutes at individual colleges and universities has begun addressing these concerns at the higher education level, additional scrutiny may be warranted for PRC-affiliated partnerships operating in K-12 schools and associated settings.

Considering these concerns, we respectfully ask the Department of State, in coordination with appropriate partner agencies, to carefully review partnerships between U.S. schools and PRC-linked educational institutions. A review of these partnerships would help ensure that U.S. educational institutions remain protected from foreign influence operations that undermine transparency, academic independence, and broader American taxpayer interests.

Specifically, we encourage the relevant Department(s) to:

• Determine which entities operating in the U.S. maintain affiliation with the United Front Work Department or other CCP-linked entities.
• Consider publishing a list of U.S. schools and institutions currently partnered with such organizations.
• Issue public guidance discouraging new partnerships with PRC-linked educational entities where appropriate; and
• Consider whether additional legislative or administrative authorities are needed to address foreign influence concerns in educational programming.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your continued leadership on issues related to national security and countering malign foreign influence.

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