Fundamental Research Security Initiatives and Implementation Memo

A directive issued January 8, 2026, by Emil Michael, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, to strengthen research security measures for all DoD-funded fundamental research and counter foreign influence, intellectual property theft, and exploitation. Key actions include prohibiting DoD funding to entities linked to Chinese military companies or with histories of IP theft, implementing annual compliance checks, and establishing a centralized Fundamental Research Risk Review Repository by FY 2026, along with automated vetting tools, damage assessments, and a common research grant database.