Moolenaar Seeks to Expand China Defense Blacklist

Representative John Moolenaar urges the Pentagon to add 150 Chinese institutions to a restricted security list.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Military

Moolenaar Seeks to Expand China Defense Blacklist

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Should the U.S. government restrict research collaborations with institutions linked to foreign militaries?

Representative John Moolenaar has requested that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth add 150 Chinese institutions and 22 talent programs to the Section 1286 restricted list. This move aims to prevent researchers funded by the China Scholarship Council from participating in defense-funded projects.

Why it matters

The list serves as a critical tool for the Pentagon to restrict sensitive research relationships with entities identified as core partners for Chinese Communist Party defense programs. By expanding these restrictions, lawmakers seek to further safeguard U.S. advancements in weapons, aerospace, hypersonics, and semiconductors.

The proposed expansion includes 14 Chinese Academy of Sciences institutes, 62 laboratories, and 58 universities. This request builds upon the Section 1286 List originally created under the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

The players

John Moolenaar

John Moolenaar is a U.S. Representative who serves as the chairman of the House Select Committee on China.

Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of War for the United States.

The details

The proposal targets laboratories involved in high-stakes research areas such as hypersonics and semiconductors. Documentation provided with the letter suggests these institutions are deeply integrated into the military-industrial apparatus of the Chinese Communist Party.

The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act originally established the Section 1286 List.
The House Select Committee on China was established in 2023.
Representative John Moolenaar submitted the expansion request on October 14, 2026.

Political Context

Opponents of expanded export and research controls often argue that broad restrictions could stifle legitimate academic collaboration and hurt U.S. innovation. Advocacy groups have previously raised concerns that such policies may lead to overreach or create hurdles for non-military research partnerships.

This policy change would impact university researchers and defense contractors who maintain partnerships with Chinese institutions. Affected organizations may face new compliance requirements regarding their funding sources and research collaboration protocols.

The takeaway

Legislators are increasingly focused on hardening the boundaries between U.S. defense-funded research and Chinese academic institutions. Institutions should review their current international research partnerships to ensure alignment with tightening federal security standards.