Comer Probes Loophole in EPA’s Federal Grant Process Potentially Hiding Foreign Influence

Follows recent EPA Office of Inspector General Report which identified the disclosure loophole within the reporting system

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) is investigating the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) administration of research grants that open the door to foreign influence in U.S. taxpayer-funded research. In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, Chairman Comer requests a staff-level briefing, documents, and information related to EPA’s processes for administering grants and how EPA plans to prevent foreign influence in its federally funded awards.

“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the EPA’s administration of research grants and post-award disclosures of foreign support and influence,” wrote Chairman Comer. “Grant applicants are required to disclose current and pending research support—including by foreign sources possibly seeking to improperly influence researchers or gain access to scientific discoveries—during the application process.  EPA, however, does not require disclosure of foreign support received after a grant has been awarded. This practice is not consistent with other government agencies administering federal research funds, and raises questions of whether foreign contributions are being used after an initial award to influence or obtain access to EPA’s federally funded research.”

On April 13, 2023, the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a memorandum identifying a loophole within the existing reporting system. EPA OIG has identified at least one grant recipient affiliated with a university who received foreign support during a federal grant’s period of performance that was not disclosed. The grant agreement did not include a requirement to disclose to EPA any foreign support subsequent to issuance of the grant.

“EPA must evaluate its application process and explore requiring additional disclosures during the post-award stage to avoid financial and nonfinancial conflicts, especially those involving foreign sources of research support,” continued Chairman Comer.

Read the letter to Administrator Regan here.