New 'Frank Wolf' Act Blocks Federal Funds for Nearly All US-China Space and Science Collaboration

The Frank Wolf Space Security Act drops a massive security fence around U.S. space and science agencies, specifically targeting collaboration with China. Essentially, this legislation bans NASA, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the National Space Council (NSpC) from using any federal money to develop, plan, or execute any policy, program, contract, or order that involves working together or coordinating with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or any Chinese-owned company. This is a complete stop sign on federal funding for scientific exchange and even bans hosting official Chinese visitors at NASA facilities.

The Security Firewall: Why Your Research Might Hit a Wall

For the scientific community, this is a major policy shift. If you are a U.S. researcher, academic, or engineer who relies on NASA or OSTP funding, you can forget about using that grant money to work with Chinese counterparts on anything from climate modeling to space debris tracking, even if the collaboration is mutually beneficial. The bill is clear: unless a new law is passed specifically allowing it, the door is closed. This isn't just about high-level government programs; it impacts the ability of U.S. universities and contractors to engage internationally if their work touches these federal agencies.

The FBI Vetting Process: The Narrow Escape Hatch

There are tiny exceptions, but they come with heavy bureaucratic baggage. NASA, OSTP, or NSpC can proceed with a joint activity only if they get the green light from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). On top of that, the agency has to certify two things. First, the activity must not risk transferring technology, data, or information that could harm U.S. national or economic security. Second, the activity cannot involve knowingly interacting with any official who the U.S. government has determined was directly involved in human rights violations. This places the FBI squarely in the middle of scientific funding decisions, giving a security agency significant discretionary power over research and international science policy.

The 30-Day Congressional Heads-Up

If one of these agencies manages to navigate the FBI approval process and certifies the activity meets the security and human rights standards, they still aren't done. They must notify specific Congressional committees at least 30 days before the activity takes place. This notification must detail the purpose, agenda, key participants, location, and timing. This level of mandatory advanced disclosure means that even the most benign, low-risk scientific meeting requires a month-long waiting period and high-level political review, adding significant friction to what might otherwise be routine international scientific diplomacy.

The Real-World Friction: What Gets Lost?

While the goal of protecting U.S. national security and sensitive technology is clear, the practical cost here is scientific collaboration. Imagine a team of American climate scientists needing Chinese data on atmospheric changes over Asia to complete a critical global model. This act could block the use of federal grant money to even coordinate that data exchange. The broad language against 'any company owned by China' could also create complicated legal headaches for U.S. agencies trying to determine compliance, potentially forcing them to avoid even tangentially related international projects just to be safe. This bill prioritizes security vetting over scientific speed and exchange, which could slow down U.S. advancements in areas where global cooperation is often essential.