US says it is probing foreign donations at University of Pennsylvania

Education Department says institution has 30 days to provide information on tax records dating back to 2017, details on agreements with foreign governments

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The US Department of Education said on Thursday it opened an investigation into foreign donations at the University of Pennsylvania, alleging the Ivy League school made inaccurate and untimely foreign financial disclosures in the past.

The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US law requires universities to report donations from foreign sources exceeding $250,000 in a year. Among the information the Education Department is seeking within 30 days from the university were UPenn’s tax records since 2017, details on any agreements with foreign governments and foreign entities, and information on university personnel affiliated with foreign governments.

President Donald Trump’s administration has launched a widely condemned crackdown against top US universities over a range of issues, including pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel campus protests against the war in Gaza, transgender rights, climate initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The government has made federal funding threats against top schools. In March, the Trump administration suspended $175 million in funding to the University of Pennsylvania over its transgender sports policies.

The US Education Department alleged late last month that the university’s policy on transgender athletes violated federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in programs that receive federal funding.

The university, which made national headlines in 2022 when a transgender swimmer competed on its women’s team, has previously said it “has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams,” and has remained in full compliance with regulations.

Following Trump’s executive order to ban transgender athletes from participating in female-only school sports, the NCAA – the governing body for US collegiate sports – updated its rules to limit competition in female-only competitions to athletes assigned female at birth.

Last month, the Trump administration sought Harvard University’s records on foreign funding going back a decade and on some foreign ties.