A recent congressional report reveals that China is leveraging partnerships with U.S. researchers funded by the Department of Energy to gain access to sensitive nuclear technology, significantly endangering American national security. The report, which identified over 4,300 collaborative academic papers involving Chinese researchers—many linked to China’s military—calls for stricter policies to prevent taxpayer-funded research from benefiting potential adversaries. Investigators noted that prior oversight failures have resulted in federal funding inadvertently aiding China’s military advancements. Lawmakers are pushing for more robust measures to safeguard American innovation, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive risk assessment to protect against foreign exploitation in an increasingly competitive global landscape.