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Subscription failed Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Jan 11, 2021 - Politics & Policy Trump seeks scrutiny of Chinese funding at U.S. schools Stef W. Kight Statue of Confucius on the campus of George Mason University in Virginia. Photo: Robert Knopes/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The Trump administration is trying to push through a last-minute policy to heighten scrutiny of Chinese government funding in American education, according to multiple administration officials familiar with the rule. Why it matters: China's influence in U.S. classrooms -- particularly through Confucius Institutes -- has long concerned Republicans. The outgoing administration has been particularly outspoken, labeling them Chinese foreign missions last summer. * Just last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged universities to take seriously concerns of China's influence through funding and student programs and has called for Confucius Institutes to close. * The institutes teach Chinese language and culture classes on U.S. campuses. They have caused alarm because they are funded and staffed by the Chinese Ministry of Education, and in numerous cases they have censored curricula and events. What to watch: The rule would require colleges and K-12 schools that are certified to have foreign exchange programs to disclose any contracts, partnerships or financial transactions from Confucius Institutes or Classrooms (the Confucius Institute offshoot for primary and secondary schools). * The rule would also apply to any other cultural institutes or student groups, such as Chinese Students and Scholars Associations, that are funded directly or indirectly by China, according to a Department of Homeland Security official. * If schools fail to report the information, Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification would be denied. Between the lines: A report from the Senate's Permanent Select Committee on Investigations found that nearly 70% of schools receiving more than $250,000 from organizations related to the Chinese government did not report the funding as legally required. * "This lack of reporting makes it impossible for the U.S. government to discern the level of potential influence of China on the U.S. educational system," according to a senior DHS official. Be smart: It is not certain the rule will reach the Federal Register before Biden takes office a week from Wednesday, but officials are pushing to get it done in time, the sources said. * Once published in the register, the new rule would go into effect immediately as an interim final rule. The Biden administration would have the opportunity to easily undo it, should it decide to do so. Go deeper Dion Rabouin, author of Markets Jan 11, 2021 - Economy & Business Foreign investors doubled Chinese bond purchases in 2020 Reproduced from the Institute of International Finance; Chart: Axios Visuals Despite the pandemic ravaging investor confidence early in 2020, U.S. and European investors flocked to Chinese debt, pushing the level of foreign investment in China's bonds to a record high and more than double its 2019 level, data from the Institute of International Finance show. What happened: Chinese government and policy bank bonds were added to the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index beginning in April 2019 and in September JPMorgan announced that they would add China's government bonds to its highly followed EM global bond index. Go deeper (1 min. read) Stef W. Kight Jan 11, 2021 - Politics & Policy Senate majority gives Democrats tool to reverse Trump policies Sen. Chuck Schumer. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images The Georgia runoff results adding a majority in the Senate to the one Democrats already had in the House gave the party a fresh tool to reverse Trump administration policies. Why it matters: The Congressional Review Act (CRA) empowers a majority in Congress to undo recent rules issued by federal agencies -- including immigration restrictions, environmental rollbacks and labor regulations. Go deeper (1 min. read) Orion Rummler 17 mins ago - Politics & Policy No. 3 House Republican Liz Cheney says she will vote to impeach Trump Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios GOP Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) became the second GOP member of Congress and the highest ranking Republican to publicly announce her support for impeaching President Trump on Tuesday, joining Republican Rep. John Katko (N.Y.). Why it matters: House Democrats introduced an article of impeachment that accuses Trump of inciting insurrection against the U.S. government, after a mob of his supporters breached the U.S. Capitol. They will vote Wednesday on impeachment. Go deeper (1 min. read) Axios gets you smarter, faster with news & information that matters. Copyright Axios Media, 2021 About About Axios Advertise with us Careers Events Axios on HBO Axios Local Privacy and terms Online tracking choices Contact us Subscribe Axios newsletters Axios app Axios podcasts Courses