The Ohio State University agreed to pay $2.1 million to resolve federal allegations that the institution failed to disclose researchers’ foreign ties while securing taxpayer-funded grants, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Federal investigators alleged that the university did not properly report affiliations and financial support involving Chinese universities and state-run research organizations in applications submitted to NASA and the National Science Foundation between 2012 and 2023.
Federal Investigation and DOJ Settlement Terms
According to the Department of Justice press release, grant applications submitted during the period required the university to share any ties to foreign governments. The settlement resolves allegations that the institution failed to disclose collaborations, affiliations, and funding received from the People’s Republic of China by employees working on NASA and NSF grants. While annual Faculty Activity Reports submitted to the university identified affiliations with Chinese universities and state-run research organizations beginning in 2014, that information was not passed along to NASA or the NSF, federal officials said.
The $2.1 million payment finalized last week represents the remaining balance after the university repaid a portion ($254,661) of the money it had received from NASA and NSF in 2024. Robert Steinau, a senior official at the NASA Office of Inspector General, stated in a news release that the agencies will not tolerate institutions that conceal foreign ties and compromise national security. Brett Shumate, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, emphasized that American universities benefiting from federal research support must fully disclose all foreign funding.
Inappropriate Foreign Affiliations and C.K. Shum’s Departure
The investigation heavily featured the case of C.K. Shum, a principal investigator for the NASA-funded project. According to Fox News Digital, Ohio State acknowledged that Shum had inappropriate foreign affiliations tied to China’s Thousand Talents Program, which the federal government describes as a Beijing-backed effort to attract individuals with access to overseas technology and intellectual property.
Benjamin Johnson, chief communications officer at Ohio State, stated that the university ultimately uncovered and investigated Shum’s foreign affiliations itself and reported them to federal authorities. The university suspended Shum’s principal investigator privileges, halted spending on the relevant federal awards, initiated disciplinary proceedings, and repaid the grant funds in question. According to university officials, Shum is no longer employed at Ohio State.
While the DOJ noted that the university became aware in 2019 of a researcher involved in the Thousand Talents Program tied to NASA-funded work, records show the university waited until 2023 to inform NASA and the NSF. University representatives maintained that Ohio State takes national security seriously, pointing to dedicated research compliance offices, mandatory conflict-of-interest disclosure systems, and robust foreign influence training programs as safeguards.
Did you know? Under a 2011 federal law, using federal grant money to collaborate with China, including its universities or companies, is prohibited.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Ohio State University agree to pay in the settlement?
The university agreed to pay $2.1 million to the federal government to resolve allegations of failing to disclose researchers’ foreign ties, according to the Department of Justice.
Which federal agencies were involved in the grant applications?
The grants in question were awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) between November 2012 and August 2023.
What was the Thousand Talents Program?
Federal authorities describe the Beijing-backed initiative as an effort to attract people with expertise in or access to overseas technology and intellectual property.
Is C.K. Shum still employed at Ohio State?
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