Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Report Finds Israeli Defense Funding at 15 US Universities
A report looked at money connected to Israel’s defense organizations that went to American universities.
It found more than $15 million in funding that was not always listed clearly in government databases.
The money supported research at many universities between 2004 and 2025.
Some projects studied missiles, sensors, surveillance systems and aircraft.
Other projects involved magnetic-field detection and special electronic systems.
Israel’s Ministry of Defence provided some funding directly.
Israeli companies such as Elbit Systems, Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries supported other work.
Expert William Hartung said universities should not accept this funding because he objects to Israel’s use of US weapons.
More than $15 million in Israeli defense-linked funding was reportedly missing from or inconsistently recorded in US foreign-funding databases.
The records covered 2004 to 2025 and involved Israel’s Ministry of Defence and companies including Elbit Systems, Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries.
Funding supported research at dozens of US universities through grants, contracts, tuition payments and other arrangements.
Projects included projectile prediction, magnetic-field detection, surveillance, autonomous helicopters, rotorcraft and atomic magnetometers.
William Hartung criticized universities for accepting funding linked to Israel’s use of US weapons.
- Who
- Israel’s Ministry of Defence, Israeli defense companies and dozens of US universities, including Columbia, Princeton, MIT and the University of Maryland.
- What
- A report identified more than $15 million in Israeli defense-linked university funding that was reportedly unreported or inconsistently recorded in US databases.
- When
- The records covered 2004 through 2025.
- Where
- At universities across the United States, including institutions in Connecticut, New York, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Massachusetts.
- Why
- The funding supported defense-related research through grants, contracts, tuition payments and other arrangements.
- Funding identified
- More than $15 million linked to Israel’s Ministry of Defence and Israeli defense manufacturers
- Period examined
- 2004–2025
- University reach
- Dozens of US universities were linked to the funding
- University of Connecticut
- $668,456 supported projectile-impact prediction research, while $251,336 supported magnetic-field detection research
- Columbia University
- Two projects received a combined $799,190 for 3D-printed electromechanical systems and sensor technology
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- About $4 million in Israeli Ministry of Defence-linked projects was reported for fiscal years 2015–2024, plus $290,000 in fiscal 2025
- Other recorded funding
- SUNY’s research foundation recorded $949,915, while Florida audits recorded $1.19 million in expenditures passed through Israel’s Ministry of Defence
