Ohio State University settlement will see the public institution in Columbus, Ohio, pay $2,100,000 to resolve civil allegations that it did not disclose employees’ affiliations with, and support from, the People’s Republic of China in applications for federal research funding.
Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said universities benefiting from federal support for scientific research must fully disclose all foreign funding in grant applications, adding that the department will hold institutions accountable for complying with disclosure requirements meant to protect research security.
Robert Steinau, a senior official at the NASA Office of Inspector General, said the recovery was secured with the Justice Department and NASA and that the settlement, along with a compliance agreement, signals that concealing foreign ties that could compromise national security will not be tolerated.
Acting Inspector General Megan E. Wallace of the National Science Foundation said federal agencies rely on grant recipients, including colleges and universities, to disclose funding sources and personnel commitments, including foreign support. Wallace said failures to disclose undermine the integrity of the grant process and can put taxpayer dollars and U.S. research interests at risk.
Ohio State University settlement tied to NASA and NSF grants
According to the government, the settlement relates to National Aeronautics and Space Administration and National Science Foundation grants that funded OSU projects from November 2012 to August 2023. In the application process, the agencies required disclosure of foreign government support received by any principal investigator or co-principal investigator. Federal law has barred the use of grant funds for collaborations with the PRC, PRC universities, or PRC-owned companies since 2011.
Officials alleged OSU failed to disclose collaborations, affiliations, or funding from the PRC involving certain employees on NASA and NSF grants. The government said annual Faculty Activity Reports submitted to OSU since 2014 identified affiliations with PRC universities and state-run research organizations, yet OSU did not relay this information to NASA or NSF.
In addition, OSU learned in 2019 that a principal investigator on NASA grants participated in a Thousand Talents Program, described by officials as a PRC effort to recruit individuals with knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property. OSU did not notify NASA or NSF until 2023, according to the allegations.
The United States also identified additional OSU employees on those grants who were affiliated with, collaborated with, or received funding from the PRC.
Enforcement effort and investigative partners
Officials said the resolution reflects ongoing efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs, including civil enforcement under the False Claims Act. The Justice Department’s Civil Division noted that FCA matters remain central to protecting taxpayer funds and federally funded research.
The case was resolved through coordination among the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the NASA Office of Inspector General, the NSF Office of Inspector General, and the FBI. Fraud Section Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Reimer handled the matter, with investigative support from NASA OIG, NSF OIG, and the FBI.
The settlement comes amid broader scrutiny of undisclosed ties to the People’s Republic of China, including cases in which an American citizen was sentenced to two years for acting as a PRC agent.
Authorities emphasized that the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and that there has been no determination of liability.