Letter to Columbia University Regarding Chinese Communist Party-Linked Funding and the China–United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF)

Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China sent a letter to Columbia University Acting President Claire Shipman urging the university to end its association with the China–United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) and to investigate foreign funding of student groups.

The letter highlights concerns that CUSEF is a CCP-linked United Front organization engaged in influence operations to advance Beijing’s interests in the United States. Chairman Moolenaar cites evidence from U.S. intelligence assessments, congressional testimony, and public FARA filings showing CUSEF’s ties to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and its role in shaping favorable opinions toward the Chinese government.

Specifically, the Committee raised concerns over Columbia’s Greater China Initiative (GCI) and its planned “China Trek” exchange program for SIPA students, which CUSEF co-sponsors and funds. The letter questions Columbia’s policies on foreign funding for recognized student groups and urges the university to follow examples such as the University of Texas at Austin, which rejected CUSEF funding after due diligence.

Moolenaar warns that CCP-affiliated entities exploit academic openness to suppress dissent and promote propaganda on sensitive topics like Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang. He calls on Columbia to:

• Terminate all ties with CUSEF and other CCP-linked organizations;
• Implement stricter vetting of foreign partnerships and funding; and
• Ensure academic independence from foreign political influence.

The letter underscores the broader national security risk of CCP influence operations in U.S. higher education and urges Columbia to protect its students and institutional integrity.

Read the full letter here.