Trump Administration Demands Transparency from University of Pennsylvania

On Thursday, the Trump administration accused the University of Pennsylvania of providing incomplete and potentially inaccurate financial disclosures regarding its foreign ties, demanding the Ivy League institution produce extensive documentation. The Education Department issued a letter to J. Larry Jameson, Penn’s president, requesting detailed records, including the names and contact information of staff involved in collaborations with foreign governments, research partnerships, and student exchange programs.

Under federal law, U.S. universities are required to report foreign gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more twice annually. However, the department stated that over half of Penn’s most recent disclosures were filed late and that many foreign funding sources were either misidentified or lacked sufficient detail. As a result, the agency is now requiring the university to submit comprehensive documentation within 30 days. This includes copies of agreements with foreign governments concerning international students and records of faculty and research collaborations spanning the past eight years. The department is also seeking information about personnel involved in managing these agreements and those participating in exchange programs and international research partnerships.

The investigation into Penn’s foreign funding practices is the latest in a series of federal probes targeting prominent U.S. universities. On April 18, the Education Department announced an inquiry into Harvard University’s foreign funding, and a week later, it launched a similar investigation into the University of California, Berkeley. In both cases, the government issued comparable requests for extensive documentation. Spokespeople for both institutions have asserted that they are fully compliant with federal reporting requirements.

These investigations are part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to scrutinize the financial dealings of elite universities, a move critics suggest is motivated by a desire to counter perceived liberal biases within academia. Last month, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at tightening restrictions on foreign funding disclosures, emphasizing the need for greater transparency. Meanwhile, representatives for the University of Pennsylvania have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the ongoing investigation.