🚨 Telling Moment: Berkeley Refuses to Commit to Transparency on Foreign Funding When asked by Congressman Michael Baumgartner whether UC Berkeley would disclose every dollar of foreign spending, Chancellor Rich Lyons refused—repeatedly. “I’m not ready to make that commitment today.” He claimed Berkeley vets “countries of concern” and even... said, “We say no to a lot of foreign money, I promise you that.” But when asked for a single example, he admitted: “I’m not in a position to provide that information.” Meanwhile, Georgetown’s president committed to full transparency without hesitation thanks to Rep. Baumgartner. Why is Berkeley hiding what foreign governments are funding on its campus?show more

Anything other than complete and full disclosure and in quarterly intervals by ALL institutions - public and private - is unacceptable. Section 117 of the Higher Ed Act does NOT go far enough. And the federal government does a poor job of monitoring and enforcing this. Report it all. Or, if you don’t want to report every dollar of that Chinese or Qatari or Saudi or Russian money, don’t take it. Moreover, ALL institutions and relevant federal and state coordinating bodies should post prominently in their websites: 1) how much money is being taken, 2) from which foreign country, and 3) the purpose and use of the foreign gift. This really isn’t hard. And it’s long past time to make these changes and enforce what’s on the books now - and then some.

@RepBaumgartner I never knew this. He says as a public university he can’t disclose foreign influence. Should be the opposite under California’s Public Records Act @HarmeetKDhillon @RepKiley @TheKevinDalton

@RepBaumgartner Dereliction of duty that there wasn’t much more on foreign funding to US schools K - University. Billions from Qatar Foundation headed by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, mother of the Emir, who glorified Yahya Sinwar.

@RepBaumgartner @UCBerkeley hiding $$$ from Qatar - shameful

@RepBaumgartner @Linda_McMahon should pull all Federal funding from @UCBerkeley and give it to a bunch of trade schools.

@RepBaumgartner BS they do.

@RepBaumgartner Great job Michael.

@RepBaumgartner Then zero federal funding. Period.

@RepBaumgartner You just voted to block the release of the Epstein files. What are you hiding, #Baumgrindr ?

@RepBaumgartner Sounds like UC Berkeley wants to lose federal funding