WASHINGTON – On Thursday, following the discovery of classified documents at President Biden’s think tank, the Penn Biden Center, Congressman Lance Gooden (R-Texas) sent a letter to the Secretary of Education demanding the release of all information regarding contracts and gifts from a foreign source between the Department of Education, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Penn Biden Center. 

Rep. Gooden said“On day one, the Biden Administration broke its promise to run the most transparent government in history by conveniently withdrawing a policy of publishing the identities of foreign donors to American universities. Now it’s clear why, since the Penn Biden Center likely received financial contributions from Chinese entities while simultaneously storing classified documents. This administration continues to jeopardize our national security by disregarding crucial policies that protect the American people from malign foreign influence, and we must investigate the damage caused by President Biden’s negligence.”

Between 2021-2022, the University of Pennsylvania received $51 million in foreign funding, including $14 million from China, but the Department of Education failed to publish the names of these donors as is required by federal law. Specifically, this letter to Secretary Cardona requests all documents and communications between his agency, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Penn Biden Center and its non-governmental organization (NGO) affiliates. Additionally, the letter requests the agency investigate any foreign donations or gifts to the University of Pennsylvania and the Penn Biden Center.

You can read the full text of Rep. Gooden’s letter to the Department of Education here.